Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Stray Chat Strut

As Adrien and Nino walked into their homeroom class, they were surprised to see Marinette here not only on time but early.

"Thanks again for doing this, Marinette!"

"No problem, Rose. Do you have any ideas about what you want it to look like?"

"A little. I'll have to think on it a bit more."

"Perhaps we can brainstorm some more at lunch or after school?"

"What are you brainstorming?" asked the model.

"Oh, A-Ad-Adrien! You startled me. Rose asked me to design her costume for the talent show next month."

"Then I know it will be perfect," he said. "Are you going to be singing, Rose?"

"I sing with Kitty Section, so I thought I'd do something different. I've always wanted to do Shakespeare because I think Romeo and Juliet is just so romantic! I've asked Marinette to design my Juliet costume."

"Which scene are you going to do?"

"The balcony scene, of course. I already have an idea for the balcony itself."

"Don't you need a Romeo? Who are you going to get?"

"I'm working on that," the blonde girl said shyly. "Marinette, will you do the Romeo costume too?"

"If you want me to. I just need enough lead time to get measurements, fabric, and so on." She looked at Rose seriously for a moment. "If we're going to do this right, then some of those fabrics can be a bit pricey. I'll need you to pay for some of that."

Rose's face fell. "Do you know how much?"

"Not until we go looking. Why don't you come fabric shopping with me when we're to that point?"

"Okay, sounds good! That way I'll know more what we're getting into."

Adrien thought a minute or two, then asked "Marinette… would you design a costume for me, too?"

"I-I-I … erm, I thought your d-dad would insist on designing a costume for you."

"I'm not going to tell him I'm in the talent show. He'd flip."

"Well, then, s-sure. What are you going to do? And do you have a costume in mind?"

"I have the purrfect idea," Adrien couldn't help but pun. Marinette stared. "What?"

"Dare I ask what costume you need me to make?"

"Yeah, but I want it to be a surprise." He leaned over and whispered in Marinette's ear, "I want a Chat Noir costume that I can dance in."

Marinette shivered as she felt Adrien's breath on her neck as he whispered. Then she looked into his face. She could see how sincere he was. And giving her kitten eyes. She melted. "Yeah, I think we can do that. You'll have to go shopping with me though."

"Fair enough."

"Will this Friday work for the two of you?" the designer asked her two performers.

"Sure!" squeaked an excited Rose.

"I'll have to check my calendar, but I think so," said the model.

The following Friday, three people met in Marinette's room for measurements and to go fabric shopping: Rose, Juleka, and Adrien.

"Let's get the measurements done first because that will help me know how much fabric we need to purchase. Who's first?"

"I'll go first, I'm used to it," smiled Adrien. True, he could have just had his measurements sent over, but that would raise too many questions. Plus, Marinette was a friend he knew he could trust.

Marinette quickly measured Adrien, humming while she did. She blushed as she held the tape at his crotch when measuring the inseam, but was able to push through it. "All done," she squeaked.

"Aren't you going to measure again - to make sure?"

Marinette went beet red. "Um," she cleared her throat. "Yeah, I probably should. Measure twice, cut once after all." She started the measurements again, comparing them to what she had written down. Every single measurement matched.

"Ok," Adrien said stepping down from the little platform they were using. "Who's next?"

"Me!" said Rose. Marinette was able to quickly measure Rose - twice - and then measured Juleka for her Romeo costume. Once they were done, the four friends went to the fabric store.

"Do you have any ideas on the colors you want for your Romeo and Juliet costumes?"

"I like purple a lot," Juleka said softly.

"Maybe some blues as well?"

"Sure." The shy girl turned her head bashfully.

"Pink for me!" squealed Rose.

"Why doesn't that surprise me," chuckled Adrien. "I think I need black," he winked. Marinette just mentally facepalmed. Who knew Adrien was such a dork?

They looked through bolt after bolt of fabric, discarding pattern after pattern until Marinette picked several for both Juleka and Rose.

"Do you do that all the time when you're shopping?"

"Huh?" Marinette turned and looked into soft, green eyes.

"Hum. You've been humming and singing the whole time while shopping," said Adrien. "And while taking measurements, too."

"I have?"

"Yes! Have you ever thought about joining Kitty Section," beamed Rose.

"I couldn't. I have waaaay too many projects," Marinette was thinking about her superhero duties.

"You could sing in the talent show, though," Rose pushed.

"Oh, I couldn't possibly do that. I'd be a nervous wreck."

"Sure you could! I bet you could do anything you set your mind to" gushed Adrien.

If only that were true, we'd be dating by now, she thought. "Nooooo," she replied thoughtfully. "You really think so?" she asked her crush.

"I know so."

"I don't know… being up on stage all by myself..."

"You could do a duet with me," he suggested. Marinette blushed.

"Really?"

"Yeah! Let's do it. Although, since I'll be in costume it's only fair that you are as well…"

"As what?"

"Well, since I'm going as you-know-who," he glanced at their shopping buddies, "you could dress up as his partner."

"Um, no." That hits waaaay too close to home. And Tikki would kill me.

"Sure! You'd make a great Lady…" he stopped himself. He did want to keep his costume a surprise from the others. "A great lady."

"No, Adrien. Let's pick something else." They wandered over to the various black fabrics.

"The original may be leather, but that's not very move-able or breathable. You'll want something that stretches without getting too thin." Marinette looked at several fabrics with spandex and rayon in them. Some were just plain … cheap. Cheap in appearance, wouldn't look good on stage, and wouldn't hold construction well. While she was looking at fabric, Adrien was looking on his phone.

"Got it! How about this one," he showed it to Marinette.

"I don't know… it's a little revealing."

"It would look GREAT on you. You'd need some white fur trim and a long-haired white wig, but I know you could pull it off. And you could use the same black fabric you'll use for my costume."

Marinette looked at the photo again, then up at Adrien's pleading face. Once again, he was giving her the kitty eyes. "Black Cat" and "Chat Noir" - a pair of black cats. It would be good for a laugh if nothing else.

"Okay, okay, fine. I give. So… what are we going to sing?"

"How about a classic from a musical?"

"Do you have one in mind?"

"How about... " he whispered into Marinette's ear. She blushed prettily, then thought a minute or two and then looked at Adrien again. It just wasn't fair. He could give Manon a run for the doll eyes trophy.

"Guess I'd better start looking at white fur trim. And some flesh-toned fabric like they use in skating outfits." Adrien just laughed.

They spent the next little while finding all the needed fabric and notions (zippers, buttons, etc.), got the fabric cut, and headed to the register. Adrien ended up paying for it all, despite protests from the girls. They all swore they'd pay him back.

Two weeks later, Marinette was nearly finished with Adrien's costume so she invited him over for a fitting - and song practice.

"Wow, that looks fantastic, Marinette!" Adrien inspected the costume up close. He could swear it looked like the real one.

"Try it on, Adrien. There's a changing screen over there."

"Yours looks good, too. Are you going to let me see how you look in it?"

"Sure," she said as she grabbed her own costume and headed behind a different screen. Soon, the two teens came out in their superhero outfits.

"I was right, you look fantastic!" Marinette blushed in response.

"Here, let me see how that's hanging on you." She smoothed out the lines of Adrien's Chat Noir outfit. "Turn around," she said, giving the costume a critical eye. "Looks like I might need to make an adjustment here. Try dancing around in it."

Giving a princely bow, Adrien held his hand out to Marinette, "Shall we?"

"Hang on." Marinette started a music app on her phone - nothing too mellow… mainly Jagged Stone. They danced and twirled, jumped, split apart & came back together. Adrien even dipped her once.

"I think … that's … enough testing." Marinette was out of breath. "How does it feel?"

Adrien moved his arms in large circles. "Feeling good!" Almost like the real thing, he thought. "Have you figured out how to do the masks?"

"I'm still working on that one. We'll probably need to use Spirit Gum as adhesive."

"Yeah, probably."

"I still haven't figured out the boots yet - for either of us."

"Oh, I have that one figured out. What's your shoe size?"

"Um… a 5 in Ladies shoes. Why?"

Excitedly, Adrien dragged her over to her computer and bumped the mouse. Marinette panicked for just a moment as her desktop screen lit up, then hurriedly picked up the mouse & launched a Web browser.

"What's the website?"

Adrien pulled up a cosplay shop and pulled up both Black Cat and Chat Noir footwear. "I've already got mine in the shopping cart. Let's add yours."

"Oh, Adrien! I-I can't ask you to do that. They're so expensive."

"Your costume was my idea - so I'll pay for the shoes. Besides," he looked a little sheepish, "I don't want to ship them to my house. Too many questions." He looked into her eyes once more. "Can I ship them here? Consider the boots a payment for costume storage space."

"Sure."

"Thank you, Marinette. You're one of my best friends." Adrien grinned happily, while Marinette smiled a little brokenly at her crush.

"Do you have your wig yet? If not, we can get that here, too."

"I haven't had time."

Despite Marinette's protests, Adrien ordered the wig along with the boots and also selected express shipping.

"Well, 'Chat Noir', I think it's time to practice. Don't you?"

"Absolutely, 'Black Cat'."

With that, they spent the next few hours working on their song and their choreography.

Adrien waited offstage for his turn to perform. He was a little nervous as he waited since he'd never sung in front of anybody before, not counting the duet practice - Plagg didn't count. He checked it over again - Nino had the music all prepared, the costume looked great (thanks Marinette), and he was pretty sure he had prepared enough.

He looked again toward the stage as Alix finished up her skating tricks, and held tightly to his microphone. The curtains closed, the music started, and Adrien strutted out on the stage using, he hoped, just a small bit of Chat Noir swagger.

   "Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh" he sang as he started his performance.
   "Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh" he continued, looking into the crowd.
   "Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh" Adrien looked for a friendly face.
   "Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh" Ah, there she was. Adrien looked right at Marinette as she came in from changing into her costume, and really got into character.

   "Black and orange stray cat sittin' on a fence.

   Ain't got enough dough to pay the rent." he sang, starting to relax.
   "I'm flat broke but I don't care
   I strut right by with my tail in the air" Adrien playfully twirled his costume's cat tail belt as he ... well, strutted... across the stage.

   "Stray cat strut, I'm a ladies cat
   I'm a feline Casanova, hey man that's that" Adrien looked for other girls in the audience. His eyes landed on Rose and he started singing to her. She blushed almost as red as Marinette.
   "Get a shoe thrown at me from a mean old man" Adrien playfully jumped to the side, pretending to duck a shoe.
   Get my dinner from a garbage can"

   "Meow!" He swiped his gloved, "clawed" hand in the air.

   "Yeah, don't cross my path!"

Adrien crossed the stage, using both Chat Noir swagger and that runway model "look". This time it was Mylene's turn.

   "I don't bother chasing mice around. Oh, no!" time to switch targets.
   "I slink down the alley looking for a fight" his eyes looked over the guys, settling on Kim for a brief moment.
   "Howling to the moonlight on a hot summer night" Ok, time to move back to the girls. Juleka's turn.
   "Singin' the blues while the lady cats cry
   'Wild stray cat, you're a real gone guy'" Juleka didn't seem to be feeling the Chat, so it was time to move on. Alix was just coming in a side door after her performance. Adrien looked right at her.
   "I wish I could be as carefree and wild
   But I got cat class and I got cat style" Adrien gestured one hand down the length of his costume.

Then he continued swaggering across the stage, dancing a little. Just before starting the next verse, he decided to mix it up a bit and looked straight at Mme. Mendeleiev and Mme. Bustier.

   "I don't bother chasing mice around
   I slink down the alley looking for a fight
   Howling to the moonlight on a hot summer night" Time to change targets again. Alya's turn.
   "Singin' the blues while the lady cats cry
   'Wild stray cat, you're a real gone guy'" Time to finish where he started.
   "I wish I could be as carefree and wild
   But I got cat class and I got cat style" Adrien looked directly at Marinette again, watching her face flush an even deeper red than before.

He had a huge grin on his face as he finished up with a little twirl of the microphone cord, catching it just as the song ended.

The applause was LOUD.

Marinette couldn't help staring at Adrien as he started to sing his song. He seemed to look at several people during his performance, but at the end, he seemed to look directly at her. Her heart started pounding, and not all of it because it was time for her to go on stage herself. Adrien smiled at Marinette as she nervously adjusted her mask, picked herself up, and went up on stage.

Come on! Marinette told herself. You know your routine, you've practiced until you have it memorized, and you're LADYBUG for cryin' out loud!

Marinette took a deep breath and spoke.

"Anything you can do, I can do better," she said, looking 'Chat Noir' up and down. "I can do anything better than you."

"No, you can't," he said looking at her.

"Yes, I can," she sang.

"No, you can't."

"Yes, I can." 'Black Cat' walked around 'Chat Noir'

"No, you can't."

"Yes, I can! Yes, I can!" she looked right at him.

Marinette really got into the performance as she and Adrien danced, twirled, and sang their song. At one point, they reached off stage and got staves.

"Any way you can fight, I can fight better," Marinette sang their adjusted lyrics. "I can fight with a staff better than you."

"No you can't," he said as he twirled his staff.

"Yes, I can!" she lunged toward him.

"No, you can't!"

"Yes, I can!"

"No, you can't!"

"Yes, I can! Yes, I can!"

As part of their dance, 'Black Cat' and 'Chat Noir' also did a little mock staff fighting. Marinette really got into it. At the end, they landed together and looked out to the audience.

They got a standing ovation - Alya cheering the loudest. Sweating, the model and the designer made their way to the audience and took off their masks. Nino handed them each a small towel.

"Girl, I knew you could do it!" Alya cheered her best friend. "That was incredible!"

"Yeah," Marinette said, a little out of breath. Looking at Adrien she said, "It was claw-some."

"Purr-fect, Milady!" smiled Adrien.

Marinette giggled. "Oh my god! You sounded just like him! No wonder they chose you to voice Chat Noir in that movie." Adrien's blush started at his neck and gradually went up his entire face. "So… what made you decide to do 'Stray Cat Strut' as Chat Noir?"

"Something I saw on the Ladyblog, actually."

"Really," grinned Alya. "What was it?"

"Some of the comments on a post mentioned that Chat Noir seemed to be a bit of a showoff, so I thought 'why not'? And it is a pretty cool song, even if it is old."

"Ok, class," said Mme. Bustier, "thank you for your sharing your talents with us today. I'm sure we all had a good time getting to know more about each other. Remember to turn in your essays on Monday about your experience in preparing for today's show."

The class groaned.

Chapter Text

Flirting with Disaster

Paris's superheroes ran across the rooftops, enjoying the night's patrol. It was half-serious and half playful as they raced each other to the top of the Eiffel Tower. Ladybug won, as per usual. Panting, she sat down, waiting for her partner to arrive a few seconds later.

"Good one!" she panted. "You gave me a run for the money today, Chat".

"Happy to oblige, Milady," Chat replied with a Cheshire grin on his face. "I love spending time with you."

"Hmmm…" she looked over the city, just marveling at its beauty. "I love living in Paris."

"The City of Love for sure."

Ladybug punched Chat's shoulder, "You're just a huge romantic, aren't you, Kitty."

"Always and forever, Bugaboo."

"Don't call me Bugaboo." Ladybug sat lost in thought. Her mind drifted toward Adrien and today's failed attempt at confessing her love. She sighed.

"What's with the melancholy, Milady?"

Marinette thought about it for a moment or two. She loved her partner - he was her absolute best friend, and she loved working with him, but… this was different. "It's something to do with my civilian life. I … I'm not sure what I can say without revealing who I am. Plus… I don't want to hurt you, Kitty." She looked down.

Chat put his arm around her shoulder, put his claw under her chin, and brought her eyes up to his. "Whatever it is, you can trust me, Ladybug. I purromise."

"It's just… um… you promise you won't be too hurt?" she pleaded.

"Bugaboo, Miladybug, I love you. I am here for you. Like I said, always and forever."

"That's just it." she tried again. "I know you have feelings for me, and I keep rejecting your advances because of the boy I love in my civilian life."

Chat's face fell. He knew this, but it still hurt. He put on a brave face and his model's smile. If he had to be relegated to the friend zone then so be it - at least he'd still be friends with his lady. "It's ok, Ladybug. I know you don't feel the same way about me. I'm still your partner and, more importantly, your friend. Please, talk to me."

"Ok," Marinette took a deep breath. "So… I tried to confess to Ad - the boy I like today. I was almost there when something … well, someone, interrupted us and I just couldn't get it out. I mean, I've had this crush for three years now and it KILLS me that he sees me as just a friend and is totally clueless that I'm in love with him." Ladybug started to tear up, so Chat just hugged her closer, putting all the love he felt into the contact.

"He's an idiot if he can't see how wonderful you are." He looked into those gorgeous bluebell eyes. "You're smart, creative, brave," he moved a strand of hair behind her ear, "beautiful, confident, and the best friend this black cat has ever known."

"Confident, ha." she laughed ironically. "Me? Confident?"

He looked at her seriously. "I can't imagine you not being confident. Able to speak your mind. I mean, look at your speech to the people of Paris back when we first started. You reassured all of Paris that we were here to stop Hawkmoth."

"That's just it, Chat. I can be confident with most people, or in the mask, but around him? I become a madly clumsy, inarticulate fool bumbling my words. Especially in my civilian form. It's like I've got diarrhea of the mouth."

"Well, that doesn't sound too appetizing," Chat joked.

Ladybug playfully punched him on the shoulder again. "The thing is, if I can't tell him how I feel, then how can I know if he likes me that way, too? Or if it would go anywhere at all? And I need to know if it will go anywhere before…" She thought a minute. "You know, I sort of envy the way you're able to just tell me your feelings."

Chat got serious for a moment. "It wasn't that easy," he said. "I tend to hide it behind joking and flirting."

"What can I do, Kitty? I've tried and tried, but nothing works."

"Flirt."

"What?"

"Flirt with him."

"I'm not sure how."

"Wanna practice," Chat smirked. "Come on, Bugaboo. You won't know until you try."

Ladybug looked up at her partner, thought a moment or two, and then said, "Don't get too close to the railing. I don't want you falling hard for me a second time."

Chat smiled. "I'm sure you'd rescue this kitty cat's heart," he said as he took her hand and kissed her knuckles.

Ladybug looked up at his green eyes and moved her hand up along his arm until it brushed over his collar bone. Then she flicked his bell. "Listen, pussycat, I know you like me." She stood up. "But you'll have to catch me!" She ran to the other side of the platform.

"What do I get when I win?" he smirked.

"Hmmm," Ladybug put a finger to her lower lip as she pretended to think. "Let me see… What would you want as your reward, my knight in shining leather?"

Chat leaped forward, Ladybug just skirting out of his grasp. "What I've wanted for three years. A kiss from Milady."

"You had one of those with Dark Cupid."

"Let me be more specific. A kiss to remember." He leaned in close, and Ladybug pushed him back by his nose, as she usually did, laughing. Chat quickly grabbed her by the waist. "Gotcha!" he shouted in triumph.

"That you did, Kitty," she said as she placed a kiss on his cheek.

"See? You can flirt, too," he said. "I enjoyed that, you know."

"But with you, I'm a little more confident. No pressure."

"Bugaboo, you are Ladybug both in and out of the mask. Just summon up some of your Ladybug courage and flirt with your idiot of a crush."

"I can't do it," she sighed.

"Oh, yes you can. Because if you don't, I'm going to pun-ish you." he tickled her.

"Stop, Chat. Oh, this is a cat-astrophe!"

"I think it's purrfect." Chat said in a low voice. Ladybug bopped him on the nose. Ladybug needs to get this idiot out of her system if I am going to have any chance at all, Adrien thought. He thought about it a moment or two.

Ladybug looked at Chat as he suddenly smirked and got a twinkle in his eye. "Oh, no. I know that look," she said.

"Ladybug, I'm issuing you a challenge," Chat said. "A bet, if you will."

"What's the bet?"

"I challenge you to flirt with your crush, so you will know once and for all where this blind idiot of yours stands."

"What are the stakes?"

"Well, if you complete the challenge and he likes you, then you have your reward. I'll leave you alone. If you complete the challenge and he doesn't feel the same way, then I get to continue purrsuing you. But if you chicken out, you go on a date with me. One date."

Marinette thought about it. She could find herself falling for her kitty. Would have most likely already have fallen for him if it wasn't for Adrien.

"Challenge accepted," she said. "I'll report how it goes on our next patrol."

"Hey, Alya! Hi, Nino" The pair were startled at Marinette's greeting.

"You're here early," said Alya.

"Yeah. I had something I wanted to take care of," she said as she sat down, summoning up some of her Ladybug confidence. Alya and Nino just looked at her. Not only was she sitting on Adrien's desk, but she had ditched her normal outfit for a more form-fitting blouse and a flowing skirt. They didn't see a certain blond model sneak in the door.

"New outfit, Marinette," asked Adrien.

Marinette jumped, just a little. Then she took a steadying breath as she summoned up some of the courage she had as Ladybug, just as she'd promised Chat she would. "Yup. This is something I've been working on for a while. I finished it last night and wanted to show it off today." she said, gesturing over the ensemble, pointing out the ladybugs and black cats sewn into the skirt. "What do you think?"

"I think it's beautiful, Marinette," Adrien said with a smile.

Taking every ounce of confidence she'd been able to summon, Marinette swallowed hard. Then said, "Not as beautiful as you, Sunshine." She then bopped him on the nose and hopped off his desk. "I've got tons of ideas in my sketchbook based on Ladybug and Chat Noir. This is just the first one I've completed. Would you like to see more?" Marinette winked, then bounced to her seat, noticing Adrien's blush.

Nino and Alya just stared.

"Girl, what has gotten into you," Alya whispered to Marinette as she slid into her seat, trying not to tremble. "You've been trying to do something like that for as long as I've known you."

"Let's just say I've accepted the challenge of getting Adrien to notice me as more than just a friend."

"That must have been some challenge," Alya quipped.

"That it certainly was. But I'm not about to lose this bet." Marinette silently thanked Chat for issuing the challenge, as she's not sure she'd have been able to overcome her shy stuttering otherwise. But like she told Alya, this was one bet she didn't plan to lose.

Adrien just sat silently, blushing from head to toe. What is up with my Everyday Ladybug today? He thought.

"Psst, Marinette," whispered Alya. "What's got into you today?" Marinette went as red as Ladybug's spotted attire. "Come on, girl, spill!"

Instead of answering, Marinette pulled out her phone and replied by text.

M: I met up with a friend last night. We got talking about our love lives, and he challenged me to make passes at Adrien.

Al: He? Is this the same guy that confessed to you the other day?

M: Yes, actually.

Al: He challenged you?

M: Actually, it's more like a bet.

Al: A bet? Come on, girl. SPILL! What were the terms?

M: That if I couldn't flirt with Adrien, I had to go on a date with him. And I am NOT going to lose this and go on a date with him.

Al: I see.

Al: Was the outfit part of the bet?

M: No. I figured that if I was going to win this bet, I was going to give it my all. What do you think?

Al: You have half the boys drooling over you today, M. Including Adrien and Nino. Thanks for that, by the way.

M: Then it's working?

Al: I'll have to check with Nino to be sure. But I think so.

"… and that's why we always use personal protective gear in the lab." Mrs. Mendeleiev was saying.

Suddenly, everybody's phones started going off. AKUMA ALERT!

Marinette breathed a heavy sigh. I was just getting started, she thought. At least I can tell Chat that I've met his challenge.

Adrien sighed heavily as he flopped onto his bed. He'd had a weird day. Between Marinette flirting with him and Ladybug kissing his frog self during the Akuma attack so he could be Chat Noir again, his heart and emotions were all over the place. He sighed again.

"Thinking about your Lady Love? Or is it Pigtails this time?" Plagg snarked.

"Plagg, shut up. I'm thinking."

"Who are you thinking about," the Kwami asked.

"Plagg!" Adrien was quiet for a minute or two, then decided he needed to talk to somebody - even if it was Plagg. "Did Marinette seem… odd to you today?"

"She's a teenage girl. She seems odd every day."

"Get serious," Adrien said to the floating cat. "Normally she can't string two words together around me, and suddenly… I don't know. It's like someone flipped a switch and now there's a different person in Marinette's body."

"Why do you think that is," asked the Kwami.

Adrien thought about it a minute. "I wish I knew, Plagg." The Kwami just rolled his eyes. "I mean she's confident around everyone else. Just not me. At least, not until today when she started flirting at me. And did you see that outfit she made?" He didn't realize it, but his face started turning red at the thought of seeing Marinette in something like that again.

He sighed heavily. "What am I going to do, Plagg? I pledged my heart to Ladybug, and now here comes Marinette. I like her, she's a great friend. And I don't want to ruin that. Besides, I feel like I'd be betraying Milady if I start to have feelings for a … friend." He looked off into the distance, thinking about two girls and trying to sort out his feelings.

Plagg patted Adrien's shoulder. "Kid, like I've said before. You need to open your eyes."

"Huh?" Adrien said as he looked toward the magical creature.

"You'll figure it out. Eventually." Tikki, I swear to all of creation that next time YOU'RE getting the mopey one.

The next morning, Marinette made sure she was on time for school. She wanted to arrive just a little early, so she had time to flirt with Adrien again.

Alya was waiting for her on the school steps. "Dang, girl. I thought it looked good on the mannequin, but this? All the guys are going to go crazy! And I really do want one of those t-shirts."

"Maybe I can make one for you," the designer said.

"With as much as you do for the class and everything, you really ought to start charging for your commissions. You are talented!"

"I like making gifts for friends," she said.

Alya caught movement in the corner of her eye as a certain DJ came up to them.

"Morning, Babe," Alya said.

"Hey, my foxy lady," Nino grinned. Then he looked at Marinette. "Woah, Dudette! That's some outfit today." He swallowed a little. "If I weren't already taken by the world's best blogger, my old crush might just come back."

The designer blushed a little. "Is it really that good?"

"Girl, if Adrien is blind to you in that outfit, I'd say he needs an optometrist. Or a shrink," said Alya. The three friends laughed at that.

Just then, they heard a car door shut and looked over as said model was getting out of the car. Adrien waved toward the threesome, not noticing Marinette's full ensemble as she was somewhat hidden behind Nino & Alya.

"Morning, guys," he said as he approached his friends.

"Morning, Adrien."

"Yo, Dude."

"Morning, Sunshine," said Marinette, stepping out from behind her best friend. Adrien's jaw dropped seeing her outfit. Summoning some of her Ladybug courage and flashing a bright smile she said, "What's the matter, Hot Stuff? Cat got your tongue?"

Adrien nearly choked. Does she know? No… she can't know. He didn't notice, but Nino nearly choked as well. Alya stared at her boyfriend.

Marinette lifted Adrien's chin with her finger so she could look into his eyes. "Come on, Adrien. We'll be late." Then she simply walked away.

Adrien, Nino, and Alya followed Marinette to class, where she placed her things at her seat. "I think it's a little warm in here," she said as she took off her jacket to place on her chair.

"Yeah, warm," Adrien said as he stared at what the jacket revealed.

The shirt's coloring was split in two, right down the middle. Across the chest was a domino mask, split in half. The half on the left was red with black polka dots and showed up nicely against the black background. The right half was black against the red background. The neckline was a soft curve, and it had standard, t-shirt length sleeves. The stitching was also themed. On the black half, the decorative stitching was Chat Noir's signature neon green, while on the red half the decorative stitching was black. The material was stretchy and soft, similar to spandex, and very comfortable. On the back of the t-shirt, you could see Lady Noir plainly, but if you looked closer you could see it said Ladybug and Chat Noir (with the word "bug" and "Chat" in a smaller font), showing the full names and yet bringing to mind the pairing that most of Paris wanted to see happen. Or at least a certain feline partner did.

Adrien's jaw dropped. "Wow," he said. "M-Mm-Marinette?"

"Yes?"

"H…" (he cleared his throat). "How many L-Ladybug and Chat Noir inspired items are in that p-portfolio of yours?" Why am I stuttering? It's just Marinette! Beautiful, kind, extremely talented Marinette. And that shirt shows off her curves nicely. Wait… what?

"Um… quite a lot. I mean, they're out there every day, risking their lives to keep Paris safe. They're quite an inspiration."

"So are you."

"What?"

The model thought fast. "So are you, um, going to enter the Gabriel Fashions design contest?"

"I hadn't thought about it. I mean, designers will be entering from all over France, and probably from around the world." She looked downcast, losing a bit of her confidence. "I'm not sure I could compete at that level."

This time, it was Adrien's turn to put a finger under Marinette's chin and make her look into his eyes. "It's worth a try, though. Right? I mean, look at what you've accomplished already!"

Marinette's heart was beating about a million kilometers a minute. "If, um, if you say so," she blushed, looking down for a minute. Then she cleared her throat and looked right into Adrien's gorgeous green eyes. "You know, I was thinking of adding more heroes to the mix. You know, Rena Rouge, Carapace, and so on."

"Girl, that would be awesome!" squeaked Alya, bringing the two out of their reverie. "Maybe do a Rena Rouge and Carapace shirt similar to the Lady Noir one you're wearing?" the reporter asked hopefully.

"Hmm.," said Marinette. "You may be on to something." She picked up the edge of her skirt. "I was thinking of adding more of the heroes on the skirt here," she said pointing to empty spaces in the skirt's design. "That's something to think about. Or should I do designs based strictly on a particular hero?"

Adrien cleared his throat as he tried to clear his mind. "Marinette, whatever you decide to do with your portfolio, I know you can hold your own in the contest," he said.

"Do you think so?"

"Yes. I bet you'll place very highly, if not an outright win."

"Adrien, you are one of my best friends in the entire world," Marinette said. "But if I decide to enter this contest, I want it to be on my own merits. No helping with the judges. Okay?"

Adrien grasped his chest in mock pain. "I would never use my influence at Gabriel to influence a contest," he said. "That's just wrong."

"And that's just one of the reasons I love you," said Marinette. Then she turned about as red as her superheroine uniform. Did I really just say that out loud? Oh, crap!

Adrien was shocked. His sweet, kind, beautiful friend was turning beet red after that statement. She looked just as shocked as he felt. Oh, wow, Adrien thought. And all this time I thought she was just nervous around me because of who my father is. All those years of trying to get to know her better, and … she had a crush on me? Plagg was right. I am blind. Adrien just looked at her, stunned, his face also turning a beautiful shade of red. He needed to respond. But how?

After about a minute of complete silence, Adrien plucked up some of his inner Chat Noir, took Marinette's hand in his, and kissed her knuckles. "Thank you, Marinette."

"Pay up," The two teens, not really having paid attention to anything else, looked toward their best friends as Nino put a Euro into his girlfriend's hand. "I TOLD you she'd confess first."

"Wait," said Adrien. "You bet on our love life?"

Before they could answer, Marinette started to laugh, a somewhat hollow sound. "Oh, this is a cat-astrophe," she said, thinking about her feline-themed partner and the results of their bet. "Flirt, he said. You'll never know until you try, he said. When I see him again, I may just skin that leather hide of his. What a disaster! This is just purrfect. Aargh!" She buried her face in her hands.

"Marinette?" Adrien was stunned a second time. "Was that... cat puns?"

"Um, yeah," she looked up. "Sorry, I don't know what I was thinking."

Adrien looked closer at Marinette. Really looked. Over the past day or so, she had shown a confidence he rarely saw in her. And yet… it seemed familiar. He started to picture a red and black mask over her eyes.

"Marinette, I need to ask you something," Adrien said, swallowing hard. "Why," he cleared his throat again. "Um, why have you been so... flirty with me lately?"

"You want the truth?" she asked, burying her face in her arms as she lay her head on her desk.

"Yes, please."

Marinette sighed. Well, the cat was truly out of the bag anyway, so she may as well go for it. "Adrien, the truth is...," she swallowed hard and looked up. "The truth is I've had a huge crush on you ever since you gave me your umbrella on that first day of school three years ago. But I've been tongue-tied every time I try to let you know how I feel."

"What changed?"

"A friend issued me a challenge."

"A challenge?"

"More of a bet, actually. You see, he's had a crush on me for a long time, but I can't return those feelings because of…" she gestured to Adrien. "He's a really nice guy and a great friend, but," she looked up. "Until I know where I stand with you, I can't move forward. He challenged me to flirt with you."

Adrien stopped dead in his tracks. This seemed very familiar. He swallowed hard. "Let me guess. If you weren't able to flirt with me, if you lost that bet, you'd have to go on a date with him?" he asked, hoping it was true.

Marinette looked up and stared into Adrien's eyes. "That's exactly it. And I didn't have a clue how to flirt, so we practiced. I think he liked it a little too much."

Oh, God. I HAVE been an idiot. "I think your practice made purrfect," Adrien punned. Marinette looked up at him sharply and saw what she could swear was a patented Chat Noir smirk on Adrien's face. "Marinette, my ma-madly clumsy Everyday Ladybug, I think we need to talk."

Marinette took a sharp breath and replied, "Agreed. I think I've stung this confession out long enough. No use letting it tangle us up any further." When she saw the huge smile on his face she knew he understood the reference. There was no denying it. Her long-time crush was her superhero partner.

"If you two are quite finished, I think it's time for class to begin," said Ms. Bustier.

"Talk to you at lunch," Adrien asked.

"Absolutely."

Neither Adrien nor Marinette could concentrate much on the lesson as they were both trying to sort out how they felt about what they just discovered about each other.

Marinette is Milady. My "everyday Ladybug" is the actual Ladybug. Marinette is my superhero partner and my best friend. How could I not have noticed before? She sits behind me in class… and so on was going through Adrien's head.

Marinette's thoughts were more along the lines of Oh my God! I've rejected Chat in favor of Adrien. But Adrien IS Chat. My crush is my superhero partner. I've been rejecting Adrien for Adrien. OMG! I've kissed Adrien at least three times now! Of course, one of those times he was a frog, but…

In short, the lunch period couldn't get there fast enough.

As the lunch bell rang, Nino grabbed Alya and took her to lunch saying they had things of their own to discuss, while Adrien took Marinette's hand and they went to the nearby park. They sat down on a bench, making sure there was nobody else around.

They looked at each other, quietly trying to figure out what to say. Adrien broke the silence first.

"Milady? It is you, isn't it?"

"Yes, Kitty, it's me." Marinette looked into Adrien's green eyes. "I don't know whether to thank you or skin you for issuing me that challenge." She sighed heavily. "I'm an idiot," she said.

"No more than me. I told you that crush of yours was a blind idiot. And I was right," Adrien blushed. "I can't believe that I didn't see it before."

"What gets me is that I was rejecting you because of my crush on … well, you."

"Now that you know the boy behind the mask, are you… okay?"

"Oh, Adrien, I'm more than OK. To think that my crush and my superhero partner are one and the same. I told you the night you issued that challenge that if it hadn't been for my crush I would probably have developed feelings for Chat."

"And I was being torn in two realizing I had feelings for both Ladybug, who I had dedicated my heart to, and the fantastic girl in my class that I was finally starting to see when she started flirting with me."

"So," Marinette looked shyly up at Adrien. "What do we do now that we know?"

"Just kiss her already, you idiot!" said a small voice. "Enough with all this sweetness, I need cheese!"

"Plagg!" said another small voice. "Let it be. They need to figure this out themselves."

The teens looked up to see the bug and black cat kwamis hovering nearby.

"Nice to see you again, Tikki," said the teenage supermodel.

"Good to see you too, Adrien," the creature of creation replied.

"Hey, Plagg," said Marinette.

"Hello, Pigtails," said the creature of destruction. "You really need to kiss this idiot kid. He's been pining for you something awful."

"Plagg!" both Tikki and Adrien yelled at the same time.

"Come on, Stinky Sock. Let's leave them be for a while," Tikki said as she grabbed the black kwami's hand.

"Anything for you, Sugarcube," he responded fondly as they disappeared into a nearby tree.

"So…" said Adrien shyly.

"So…" said Marinette. Then she did something she never thought she'd do in a million years. She reached toward Adrien and kissed him, full on the lips. He was surprised at first, but then naturally just leaned into the kiss, deepening it, reaching for her waist and supporting her back. It was sweet, tender, and held all of the pent up feelings that they hadn't been able to express for over three years. They only broke apart once they needed some air.

"Wow," said Adrien. "That was…," he thought for a moment, "… definitely a kiss to remember."

"Unlike the other times?"

"It's not fair that you remember that kiss during Dark Cupid and I don't," Adrien pouted.

"Truth be told, I only did that to get my partner back." Marinette bopped Adrien on the nose. "I had no idea I was kissing the love of my life at the time," she grinned.

"We're going to need to go over just about every conversation we've ever had," Adrien said.

"Yeah," sighed Marinette. "You know something? Alya was right about that Frog Prince kiss the other day. There definitely had to be some feelings there for the kiss to break the Akuma's spell."

"I'm glad there was."

The alarm on the phone started to beep. "I think we ought to grab something before we go in, don't you?" Adrien asked. "My treat. Consider this a first date."

Marinette blushed, but accepted Adrien's arm as they called for their kwamis and headed out of the park, bought some food from a cart, then walked toward the school.

"Adrien, are we ... official?"

Adrien stopped for a brief moment, then turned to the petite girl beside him. "Marinette Dupain-Cheng, would you do me the honor of being my girlfriend?"

"Yes, Adrien."

"It's about time!" yelled a hidden black cat creature.

Chapter Text

You had a Miraculous?!

"Marinette, your friend is here."

"Send him up, Mom. And, thanks!" Marinette's heart started beating faster. Calm down, Marinette! You're working on a school project, not asking him out, she chastised herself. Marinette was still crushing on Adrien – hard – but had decided that it would be better not to stress over asking him out and just concentrate on being a better friend. It took her over a year to come to that conclusion, but hey… it seemed to be working.

Soon enough, she heard a knock at her trap door. "Come in, Adrien," she greeted brightly. "You ready to study? Or should I kick your butt at UMS first?"

Adrien laughed, his radiant smile lighting up the room. "We'd probably better actually work on our project first, don't you think? I can beat you at Mecha Strike later."

"In your dreams, Sunshine Boy! Come on, let's get started."

The two teens had been paired up for a project concerning social media and its impact on society. They looked for evidence from various social media and news sites: Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, among others. Soon they were looking over the various stories and photos on the Ladyblog, their project all but forgotten.

"Ugh, I can't believe all the comments on artwork of Ladybug and Chat Noir kissing, of all things," complained Marinette.

"I don't know, Marinette. There is lots of photographic evidence of them kissing. That incident on top of Montparnasse Tower, for example." Adrien smiled.

"Oblivio, you mean?"

"Yeah," he sighed dreamily, thinking about how if his Lady fell in love with him during that Akuma that he could win her heart again.

"They lost their memories. So what could have possessed Ladybug to kiss her partner when she's been so adamant that they're not a couple?" Marinette wondered aloud. She's actually wondered this for a while.

"I don't know. Maybe their time had run out & they detransformed?"

"Maybe. But wouldn't they have to stop being a hero if that happened?"

"What makes you say that," Adrien asked.

"Um…, uh…, well…," Marinette felt she was backed into a corner. The only way out of this was to admit she'd been a Miraculous holder. "You have to swear you won't tell anybody what I'm about to tell you."

"I promise," he said, nearly purring.

"Well," she said shyly, "I was a temporary holder once."

"Really? Which one?" He knew, of course, since he was there (as Chat Noir) when Marinette faced Kwamibuster.

"The Mouse Miraculous. I was Multimouse."

"Wow, Marinette." He thought that he should share his own experience. "On that note, um…" He paused. "You have to swear you won't tell anybody"

"I promise."

"I have been a temporary holder, too."

"Really?" Marinette had to fake that this was news to her. "Who were you?"

"I actually held the snake Miraculous before Viperion did. I called myself Aspik."

"Why did you stop?"

"I didn't do very well as the snake," he said sadly. He remembered all those months of resetting the timeline. "I saw Ladybug dying over and over and over again. Eventually, I couldn't handle it anymore."

Marinette reached out & gave him a hug. It seemed that it still bothered him.

"You know what, Marinette? I think you would be a great hero."

"You do?"

"Of course! After all, you're our 'Everyday Ladybug'."

"You've called me that before," she said.

"That's because it's true."

"If I'm an 'Everyday Ladybug', then can I call you our 'Everyday Chat Noir'?"

Adrien laughed at that. If only you knew, he thought. "Why not?"

The rest of the afternoon was spent doing homework and playing video games, Marinette thoroughly trouncing Adrien at Ultimate Mecha Strike – except for the time he won by distracting her by kissing her on the cheek.

Chapter Text

Adrien Akumatized!

Adrien's mind was whirling as he ran away from the mansion, feeling like the world was falling out from under him. His father had always been a little cold and distant, even controlling, and ever since his mother disappeared it had gotten worse. That could explain it, but now he had to reconcile the fact that Gabriel Agreste, his own father, is ... Hawkmoth. Adrien was more than worried. He was depressed. His thoughts just kept spiraling.

Father is Hawkmoth… I am Chat Noir… all the battles we've fought… all the times he's nearly killed me as I was protecting Ladybug… Ladybug! She was right about Hawkmoth's identity… What am I going to tell her? HOW am I going to tell her without revealing my identity?… Should I reveal my identity to her?… Hawkmoth has been living in the same house as me… Father, why would you do this?… Hawkmoth…

"Kid, we've got to get out of here!" Plagg's eyes narrowed as he saw the telltale purple and black butterfly heading their way. "Run!" He warned.

Adrien took off the Cat Miraculous and held it out. "Plagg, take this to Ladybug! I may not be able to resist. Tell her what's going on!" With that, Plagg took off, and the Akuma settled on Adrien's shirt.

"Squire, you know the pain of losing family. I grant you the power to rescue those you hold dear." The voice in his head was smooth, persuasive, and totally like his father. Adrien swore he would not give in… or at the very least he'd resist for as long as he could. Hopefully, he'd be able to hold out until his Lady arrived.

"You know what, Hawkmoth? You're an asshole!"

"I can make you powerful."

"I have power enough, thanks. And a lot more fame & money than I've ever wanted."

"I can give you what you most want." Seriously, did Gabriel never figure out what he wanted the most was time with him? Encouragement? An actual, loving parent?

"Yes, you could have, FATHER. But you haven't! Instead of giving me the support I've needed, you've played at creating supervillains! Apparently I'm not as important as terrorizing Paris. So bugger off!"

In his befuddled state, Adrien started wandering. Without consciously thinking about it, he went to the one place, the one person other than Ladybug he thought could help him overcome the darkness… and finds himself at the Dupain-Cheng Boulangerie Patisserie.

The shop door chimed as he stumbled in. "Marinette… help me!"

"Oh, dear," said Sabine Cheng as she saw Adrien's face. "Go, Marinette. We'll be OK without you for a while."

"Adrien?" Marinette saw the purple mask that meant Hawkmoth was communicating with his Akuma victim. "Oh my god, Adrien!" She drags him up to the apartment in the living room, gives him a hug, and keeps hugging him and stroking his hair, comforting the boy.

"You are loved, Adrien. You have great friends and people who will stand by you no matter what. Please don't give in," she begged. He stared at her, tears forming in his eyes. "I don't know what I'd do if you gave in. I need you, Adrien. I… I love you!" Marinette cried.

Adrien stared, wide-eyed at this revelation. "Really?" he sniffed as he smiled. Adrien's face fell. "I'm afraid you won't love me anymore," he said sadly.

"Why ever not?"

"Because my father is Hawkmoth!" he said bitterly. "I just found out… " He started to lose control. Then his body went rigid as the purple mask formed over his eyes again.

"You have been a dutiful son, Adrien. Submit so our family can be whole once again. I need you!"

"Why the hell should I, Hawkmoth? You destroyed our family with this goal of yours, whatever that is. You'll never get the Ladybug or Black Cat Miraculous because I WON'T LET YOU!"

"Adrien, stay with me. Adrien?! I'm here." Marinette continued to hug the boy and stroke his blond locks. "I love you, really I do."

"You're just saying that you love me. You don't mean it."

"Yes, I do!" This was not the way Marinette would have preferred to confess her love, but she didn't think about that right now.

At that point, Plagg entered the room through a window, making sure nobody but Marinette (and Tikki) could see him. He made sure to catch Marinette's eye as he held up the miraculous, then nodded toward Adrien. To say she was floored was an understatement. She started to go into panic mode, but then looked at the boy in her arms. She couldn't afford to spiral right now. So, she did what she could.

Adrien… Chat Noir… needed her now more than ever. "I've loved you ever since you gave me your umbrella on the second day of school. Why do you think I kept stuttering whenever I was around you?" She gave him a shy, bashful smile. "I know you have no control over what your father tries to do. Stay with me, please," Marinette cried. "I need you, Adrien! Together we can fight Hawkmoth's influence. Together we can do anything. It's you and me against the world!"

She could see him still struggling, the battle written all over his face. Nothing for it now but to go for broke. "Come on, Kitty. I need you!"

That snapped him out of it. Did she just call him "Kitty"? But that would mean…

Adrien's thoughts began another spiral, though this was a positive one. How could he have missed it? "Marinette. My everyday Ladybug. I… I can't believe I was so blind. I… I love you, too."

At this point the negative feelings were gone, leaving only the brightly shining love between the two miraculous holders. The purple and black butterfly left Adrien's shirt.

"Are you going to be ok, Adrien?" Marinette looked over at him.

"For a few minutes, anyway. Go, Milady, and do what you need to do. Then, come back to me? We should talk."

"I'll always come back to you, Adrien. Always and forever." Marinette put all her love into the hug before she disengaged and called for her transformation so she could catch the Akuma. "I'll be back before you know it, Kitty. Then you and I can talk about how to defeat Hawkmoth once and for all."

"Bugaboo…"

"Yes, Kitty?"

"I'm glad it's you."

Chapter Text

Chapter 5 - You have ANOTHER Miraculous?!

"Are you sure about this, Milady?"

Ladybug looked up at Chat Noir shyly, but determined. "As ready as I'll ever be, Kitty. On three?"

"Okay. One…"

"Two," she joined in.

On "Three!" the two superheroes detransformed. For a moment they just stared at each other, stunned.

"Adrien?"

"Marinette?"

"I'm glad it's you!" they said at the same time, then laughed, crushing each other in a huge hug.

"I can't believe that my crush has been my pun-loving partner this whole time."

Adrien blushed. "Your crush, huh?" he teased.

"You never noticed?"

"I'm not that oblivious. I was just so blinded by spots that I didn't see my classmate clearly."

"Maybe you needed glasses," she quipped. He playfully punched her on the arm.

Marinette snorted. Then her eyes went wide. "Oh my god, this explains Oblivio!"

"The superhero kiss, you mean?"

"Yeah." She looked up at the blond. "You know we had to have detransformed at some point during that battle, right?"

"Uh, huh."

"With our memories erased I know I would have tried everything to find out our identities. I'm pretty sure I'd have looked at my ID and phone, and... I had you as my phone's wallpaper."

"I had a Ladybug photo gallery." He smiled shyly, "Still do, actually."

"And yet you couldn't find me in civilian form, though we hung out a lot."

"I saw enough of you to call you our 'Everyday Ladybug'."

"Okay, my 'Everyday Chat Noir'," she laughed. Then she remembered the conversation leading up to that nickname and gasped. "Aspik!"

"What? I mean, you knew I was Aspik. You gave me the miraculous."

"Yeah, but I'm remembering our conversation from a while ago. When I told you I had been Multimouse and you told me… about… oh. my. God. You were there! You were there on the TVi roof during Kwamibuster. You saw me as Multimouse!"

"And as Ladybug. How did you pull that off?"

"One of the mini-mes had the Fox miraculous."

Adrien snorted. "Of course." He kissed her forehead. "Brilliant as ever, Milady." He paused. "You know, I was suspecting you were Ladybug just before we fought Kwamibuster."

"And I was suspecting you, but Tikki suggested I come up with a way to convince you I wasn't."

"Plagg suggested the same thing. That's why I said I thought Francois Dupont was an elementary school."

"It worked." She smiled.

"Your solution was better."

"I'm just glad I got your miraculous back. That banana costume though…"

"I needed something to hide my identity. And it was lying around."

"Is that the reason behind BanaNoir?"

"With 'Feast'? Yeah, one of them anyway…"

The conversation continued through the night as they discussed all the ways the miraculous had changed their lives. And they decided that they would need to revisit all the conversations they'd ever had.

"I can't believe you had another miraculous," they said at the same time, paused, and laughed until they cried tears of joy.

"Will you two just kiss already," snarked a voice from nearby.

"Plagg!" Tikki swatted her counterpart while the two love-birds blushed furiously.

Chapter Text

Chapter 6 - Fan Art

Four friends were out enjoying the beautiful Parisian summer day. They were excited because their friends Nathaniel Kurtzberg and Marc Anciel had finally been able to publish their first serialized Ladybug and Chat Noir comic book, and the four teens were on a hunt. Unfortunately, they were having no luck.

"Didn't Nathaniel say that he posted some of the comic book art on a Website," asked Adrien.

"Oh, yeah! What was it called again?" Marinette had no idea what the site was called.

"Art something-or-other," said Nino "Art Deviations, I think."

"That's it! Hang on." Alya dug out her phone. "I look up fan art for the Ladyblog all the time, and that's one of my go-to sites." She gave up after a few minutes. "Ugh, this screen is too small for all of us! Plus we've been looking for the comic book for hours. I say we go back to Marinette's, grab some snacks, and look up the art on Art Deviations."

"Oh, I see how it is," teased Marinette. "You guys only like me for my snacks."

"Yup," deadpanned Nino.

"That's it, guys. You're getting yesterday's leftovers."

"You wouldn't do that to us, would you," asked Alya.

"Or nothing at all." Adrien gasped audibly, purposely being overdramatic. Marinette may have sounded serious, but she had a definite twinkle in her eye.

The four friends laughed as they made their way toward T&S Boulangerie Patisserie. Once they arrived, they headed straight up to Marinette's room while she gathered a plate of snacks. She set them down on her desk while the others gathered around her computer screen (she was just glad she'd finally mellowed down her Adrien shrine – at least the obvious one).

"Got it!" Alya was triumphant as she pulled up the Website. "Anyone know his user name?"

"Uhhh… no idea."

"Sorry, babe."

"Let's just search for it," suggested Marinette, and they did just that. The four teens scoured the site, looking for Nathaniel's art. They didn't have much luck – but they did find a lot of other art based on Ladybug and Chat Noir.

"Wow, some of this is really good," Marinette gushed. "Look at this one!"

"I like the faces in this action pose here," said Nino, pointing out one where Ladybug and Chat were fighting what looked like Gigantitan.

"That's an interesting take. Like if the Miraculous Cure didn't work all the way," Marinette saw one that showed Ladybug holding a first aid kit, tending to wounds on Chat Noir's arm.

"That's not even the best stuff on this site. Look here." Alya clicked a link and went into the LadyNoir section of the site. She pointed out one that was obviously based on the kiss after Oblivio. "Just look at the love in their eyes! If only the real 'ship' would sail."

"Wait, what's that one?" Adrien pointed at one of the thumbnails. It looked like the two superheroes were lying down. As Alya clicked on the image, Marinette tried to get closer to see.

"Is that…" she paused, going slightly red.

"Um, yeah." Adrien nearly choked as he realized he was looking at his own bare rear end … sort of. "They're not wearing much, are they. I mean, all I can see is masks and sheets." Marinette squeaked a little.

"The artist certainly has… um, imagination," said Nino.

"Can we click a different image, please?" If possible, Marinette's blush was redder than her superhero suit. "Alya, please tell me you don't post stuff that… risque on the Ladyblog."

"The Ladyblog is a public forum for all ages, so I keep the actual images as PG as possible. I'll link to this site, but point to the more … sedate images." She clicked a different image. "Oh look, this one is a comic strip."

The group read the comic. The quality wasn't as good as Nathaniel and Marc's, but it had a decent story. They clicked on another image.

"Hey, this looks like his stuff," Marinette was relieved to finally see what they had been looking for. "What's the user name?"

Adrien looked closer at the screen. "SuperNathaniel."

"We should have guessed. Isn't that what he named himself before he was Akumatized into Evillustrator?"

"You know, Marinette, I think you're right," said Alya.

The teens spent the rest of the afternoon reading Nathaniel and Marc's comic they had posted on the site.

Chapter Text

Chapter Text

Morning with the Agrestes

Marinette rolled over into her husband's arms. It was warm, and definitely enjoyable, and a perfect excuse to procrastinate.

"Penny for your thoughts," the blonde in her bed asked.

"Nothing much," she yawned. "Just enjoying the company."

"Hmmm…"

She snuggled closer, but her hair got in her face.

"Would you mind?" the bluenette asked. Her husband tried brushing the hair away from her face, but it only got worse. "Other direction," she smiled. Soon, her bangs were out of her eyes and all was right with the world - until she felt cooling moisture on her forehead.

"Eeew!" she exclaimed as she rubbed her forehead onto her husband's chest. He only chuckled. "That's it, Kitty. You've lost your cuddling privileges for the morning."

"Awww, but Mari…"

"Nope. You should have thought of that before you licked me." And with that, she got up and proceeded to face the day.

Chapter Text

The Kidnapping of Adrien Agreste 

Adrien Agreste had lived with a bodyguard for most of his life. It was just normal - for him, anyway. Still, he chafed at the restrictions it put on his freedom - and that didn’t include the stifling loneliness he felt from being homeschooled (until recently) and being confined to his room most days. Still, there were times that he appreciated having a bodyguard - like when his fans took it a little too far. But he never fully appreciated the Gorilla’s protection until the day he was kidnapped.

It started out like any other Wednesday - school, then fencing, then home for homework and piano practice or a Chinese lesson before slipping out for a patrol with his Lady. Adrien was bidding Kagami goodbye as she closed her sedan’s door before heading for the one the Gorilla was holding open for him. Suddenly, the Gorilla slapped his neck and appeared to wobble. Adrien started running toward the huge man when he suddenly felt a prick in his own neck. The last thing he remembered before passing out was the Gorilla trying to punch someone dressed head-to-toe in black, including a ski mask, before slumping over.

Adrien woke to aches and pains and a muddled head. He tried to stretch, but found he couldn’t. Neither his arms nor feet could move, his wrists and ankles seemed to be tied together behind him. He also couldn’t see or open his mouth and there was a strange thrumming sound. Adrien tried working his jaw, but found he was gagged. Eyes wide in panic, he felt for his miraculous - fortunately, he still felt the ring on his finger. The next thing he knew, the blindfold was being lifted a little.

“Kid, are you awake now?” 

Oh, thank god. Plagg was still with him. He nodded, a grateful look on his face. He had a billion questions that he couldn’t ask while he was gagged. He tried spitting the gag out again. Plagg got the hint, and tried to untie it with little success.

“I could try cataclysming the gag or your bonds, but I don’t know how much I can control. It might end up hurting you.”

Adrien thought about his situation a moment. Of course! He couldn’t be Chat Noir right now, but Plagg could cataclysm on his own. Now that Plagg was able to remove the blindfold, he saw that he was on a carpeted surface.

“Mmr rwi een uh grunk?” he asked. Fortunately, somehow Plagg understood gag speech. 

“Yeah. It looks like the kidnappers knocked out Gorilla with some sort of dart, then threw you in the trunk of a car. I needed to make sure you were okay before I did anything too drastic.” 

“Eefine urastuk.”

“Cataclysming the whole car. But that would put you in danger. I tried untying you while you were out, but that didn’t work.” He got a sly grin. “On the other hand, the driver now has no brake lights or turn signals.”

Adrien’s eyes went wide as he looked at his Kwami. Then he chuckled. “Pfanks, Pwagg”.

Okay, so he was tied up in a trunk, gagged, and blindfolded (sort of) with no way to activate his miraculous. Plus if he were able to become Chat Noir while tied up in a trunk, it would be a dead giveaway to his identity. 

“Rone?”

“Smashed and left next to the Gorilla, along with your book bag. I barely had time to sneak under your shirt..”

Adrien sighed - no way to call for help then. At least the quiet of the car helped him think. Wait… quiet. A full-on Chat Noir-esque smirk graced Adrien’s face.

“Pwagg, katuhqwisn mufer, heath-wanths, ewek-rithal, evwyfing! Mathe kur faw afwarth.”

Plagg rubbed his nubs together. Now that was an idea. Plagg’s cheesy grin matched Adrien’s smirk. “Great idea!” he shouted as he took off to do what he did best.

It didn’t take long for parts to start falling off the car. First, the muffler fell into the middle of the busy street. Then the car started overheating badly and the fuel level dropped more quickly than it should. By the time assistance arrived, the car had been pulled to the side of the road, police had arrived, drivers having alerted the police to the car that was falling apart while on the road.

While the police were speaking with the driver, Plagg went for the coup de grace and cataclysmed the trunk closing mechanism. As soon as it was open, Adrien sat up as much as he could, with the result that the cop saw his blonde hair pop up. The kidnappers were arrested in short order and Adrien untied. As soon as he was freed, he called the Gorilla, confirmed he was okay and in police custody, then handed the phone to the cop to provide details on which station to meet at.

As soon as he saw the Gorilla, Adrien gave him a big hug. 

“Thank you for always watching out for me,” Adrien said. “I’m sorry if I’ve seemed ungrateful. It’s got to be a tough job.”

Gorilla just raised his eyebrow and grunted.

“I’m just lucky the car was falling apart,” Adrien grinned. In Adrien’s pocket, Plagg chuckled and Adrien whispered, “Don’t worry, Plagg. I owe you a well-aged camembert.”

The Gorilla pretended not to notice.

Chapter Text

The Wrong Lie (rewrite)

Marinette once again sprinted into the classroom just before the bell rang. Unusually, Mme. Bustier wasn’t up at the whiteboard like she usually was. Instead, M. Damocles was setting up a video screen.

“Class,” M. Damocles began, “Mme. Bustier is not here today. Since no substitute was available, we are going to do something a little different. We have a rare film for you to watch. While you watch it, think about the film. You will be writing a one-page paper about how the film made you feel. You can discuss anything - plot points, tropes, character archetypes, whatever. Don’t worry about trying to write about it all - just what impacts you the most, Be prepared to discuss it when Mme. Bustier returns.” M. Damocles waited long enough for the students to get their notes ready, then started the film.

Adrien’s heart started beating a little faster as soon as the movie started - a black and white film called Solitude . 

Marinette reached forward and whispered to Adrien. “Isn’t that the movie we saw when trying to avoid your fans?”

“Uh huh” was the most he could respond. This would be his second time watching the film from beginning to end. This would be a very different experience for Adrien than it would be for the rest of the class, although only Marinette would understand why. And Chloe. 

The class was mostly silent as they watched the film, taking their notes. At least until the end.

“I know that actress,” boasted one Lila Rossi. The whole class stared at her, two more intensely than others. “She seemed very nice when I met her, but then I learned that she sold her daughter off as a prostitute because she was broke.”

Most of the class gasped, but Adrien had a different reaction. With tears in his eyes he stood up, ready to say something - but someone else beat him to it.

“How dare you say that!” Marinette yelled at the Italian liar. 

“Whoah, Mari, calm down,” Alya said. “Why are you yelling at her?”

“Because she doesn’t know what she’s talking about.” Marinette turned back to Lila. “Take it back!”

“I don’t know why you’re yelling at me, Marinette. I didn’t do anything. I’ve only tried being your friend.” The crocodile tears were strong.

“Listen to me carefully, Lila. I don’t care what you do to me. You can threaten me, hurt me, lie about me to your heart’s content. But don’t you ever say anything about Adrien’s mother again!”

“Wh-wh-what?” the Italian stuttered while Chloe, who suddenly pieced it all together, started laughing her butt off. She pulled out her phone and subtly started texting. “Sabrina, start recording this,” she whispered.

Sabrina pulled out her phone to do as she was commanded, though she was very confused as to why. Then again, Chloe liked drama.

“I didn’t say anything about Adrien’s mother!” Lila protested. “I just mentioned the lead actress of the fim. Emily Graham de Vanily. Why do you have to be so mean, Marinette?”

“I’m just standing for the truth, Lila!”

Suddenly, Adrien’s phone rang. When he saw the caller, his face paled. He quickly answered the phone.”

“Hello, Father,” he answered. Adrien’s classmates could only hear his side of the conversation. “Yes… Yes, she is…” 

With a confused look on his face, Adrien handed his phone to Lila. “He wants to speak with you.”

Lila took Adrien’s phone. “Hello?... Uh, yes sir.” While the class couldn’t hear M. Agreste’s end of the conversation, they watched as Lila’s face became more and more pale. She shakily handed the phone back to Adrien.

“Yes, Father,” he said. Then he put the phone on speaker.

“First I must ask, is anybody recording this right now?”

“Several.”

“I will require copies of those recordings once we are finished. Adrien can get you the proper contact information. It seems I need to correct some misconceptions.”

The class was utterly silent. Misconceptions?

“Firstly, Mlle. Rossi has confirmed that she said she knew Emilie Graham de Vanily, and heard she had sold her only daughter into the sex trade due to financial problems. Correct?”

“That’s correct, M. Agreste,” Marinette said, trying to stay calm.

“I see. That brings me to my second point. The Graham de Vanily family are aristocrats from England, and this is Emilie’s family name. Emilie would have no need to do something as … crass as selling a child. Research it. Thirdly, Emilie married and had just one child - a boy, not a girl… my son, Adrien.”

Most of the class, other than Lila, looked at Adrien for a moment, then looked at Lila’s pale face. Chloe slowly went to Adrien’s side to offer him a hug, while Marinette had placed herself in a fighting stance, as if protecting Adrien from the Italian liar.

“I-I-I di-didn’t know she w-w-was your wife, s-s-sir,” the terrified Italian replied.

“It doesn’t matter that you didn’t know she was Adrien’s mother! Just because you want to be popular, that doesn’t mean you can go ruining someone else’s reputation!” Marinette was so angry she nearly hit the girl. Gabriel was almost sorry he wasn’t able to send out an akuma while on the phone.

Marinette continued. “Just because I called you out on your lies that doesn’t mean you can threaten me! Just because you want to be rich and famous doesn’t mean you can use Adrien to do it!  It doesn’t mean you get to be a gold digger, or blackmail me into staying away from him. It doesn’t mean you get to have me expelled just because I’m in love with him!”

It took about two seconds for Marinette’s face to turn beet red. “Oh shit, I said that out loud, didn’t I.” Alya nodded while Adrien was stunned for a moment at the unintended confession.

“Wait a minute, Marinette. Did you say she threatened you?”

“Yes, the same day she ‘came back from her trip’.” Marinette said using air quotes.

Adrien was livid. “I gave you a chance, Lila. You hung onto me like a leech during photo shoots, ignoring both the photographer’s instructions and my wishes, you insulted my mother and claimed to have met her after she had disappeared. And you threatened my Princess?”

“Adrien,” Gabriel’s voice was low, “did you say that Mlle. Rossi hung on you without consent?”

“Yes, Father.” Adrien could visualize his father pinching the bridge of his nose. 

“Mlle. Rossi, if you were so dense as to have the unmitigated gall to state a fabrication so obviously false one has to wonder… what other prominent persons have you lied about? This is slander. Additionally, touching my son without consent is sexual harassment. Both acts open you to the possibility of litigation. I have yet to decide if I will pursue such a course. 

“As for your classmates, I hope they have learned not to take things that seem too good to be true at face value.

“Adrien, I have one other thing to say to you privately.” With that, Adrien took the phone back off of speaker mode. He actually seemed a little less tense.

“Yes, Father… Marinette… Yes, Father… Um, I’ll extend the invitations.” And with that he hung up his phone.

“Wait a second, wait a second,” Alya said, trying to catch up to the conversation. “Princess?”

Marinette stared at Adrien a moment as she put the pieces together. “No way,” she said just before fainting - it had been an emotional few minutes. Fortunately, Adrien was there to catch her. He tenderly placed Marinette in the nearest chair, then turned once again to Lila.

“Touch Marinette again, and I promise you’ll live to regret it,” he said softly, but no less deadly than his father. He smirked a little. “Now perhaps you’ll learn that lying has consequences.” A petrified Lila nodded her head.

“Well, now that the liar is dealt with will someone help me wake up Marinette?” Chloe was the only one who seemed able to move. She grabbed a water bottle and shook a few drops onto Marinette’s face, and when that didn’t work she ended up dumping the whole bottle on her. 

“What the hell was that for,” Marinette spluttered as she sat up.

“You didn’t wake up,” Chloe said calmly.

“Princess! I’m glad you’re awake,” Adrien smiled at her.

“So it wasn’t a dream,” she muttered.

“Well, now that you’re awake, I have a question for you.”

“Do you mind if we talk in private first?”

“No problem, Princess.”

“Before you disappear, I have a question,” the Ladyblogger said. The two secret superheroes glanced her direction. “Since when did you start calling Mari ‘Princess’, Agreste?”

Adrien just smiled his megawatt smile. “When it felt right.”

“Mari,” Alya said with an expression that clearly gave a ‘we’re not done with this’ vibe.

“Chill, Alya. I’ll fill you in later. Right now, it’s time to find somewhere private to have a conversation. Come on, Kitty.”

Adrien smirked, following Marinette out of the classroom to a secluded corner, where they had a long heart to heart… and each figured out their partner’s alter ego in the process.

As soon as they left, Alya started researching some of Lila’s claims. Then all hell broke loose.

BONUS SCENES

Here are the conversations Gabriel Agreste had with Lila Rossi and with Adrien while the phone was not on speaker.

Lila

Lila took Adrien’s phone. “Hello?”

“Mlle. Rossi? I understand that you said that the lead actress of Solitude sold her only daughter into the sex trade. Is this correct?”

Lila figured that she wasn’t going to be able to wiggle out of this one and for once told the truth. Uh, yes sir.” 

“Mlle. Rossi, I know for a fact that this is a blatant falsehood. Now lies and manipulation are not uncommon in the fashion industry, but this is so egregious it goes beyond a simple Human Resources matter. You have personally insulted my family.” Lila’s face went more and more pale as the conversation went on. 

“Consider all agreements with me or with Gabriel Fashions null and void as of this moment. You will receive the official notification soon. You are also to stay at least 10 meters away from my son at all times. Now, hand the phone back to my son.”

She shakily handed the phone back to Adrien.

Adrien

“Yes, Father,” Adrien sighed, feeling a little more relaxed for the first time since this debacle started.

“For your information, I have fired Mlle. Rossi as a model and advised her to keep at least 10 meters away from you at all times. Her harassment of you is unacceptable. Now, Mlle. Bourgeois called Nathalie who informed me what was going on. Is there anyone else there who stood up for you before I called?”

“Marinette.”

“Mlle. Dupain-Cheng, correct? The one who won the bowler hat competition?”

“Yes, Father.”

“I want you to bring Mlle. Dupain-Cheng and Mlle. Bourgeois home after school.”

“Um, I’ll extend the invitations.”

“See that you do. Remember to get those recordings.” And with that, Gabriel Agreste, fashion mogul and Paris supervillain disconnected the phone. 

Chapter Text

Double Date at the Nail Salon

"I can't believe you talked me into this," the DJ grumbled.

"You agreed to the 'dare', Nino," laughed Marinette.

"Cheer up, handsome. At least you're not the only guy here," said Alya.

"Trust me, Nino. You're going to love it." said the handsome blond boy.

"Yeah, but you're a model, Adrien. You do this stuff all the time."

"And I keep telling you, it's great!"

Nino grumbled good naturedly. He had agreed to the dare, so it was his own fault.

Adrien turned to the two girls. "Thank you for coming with us. I don't think he would have come with me otherwise."

"Are you kidding? I couldn't miss this."

"Way to support me, Alya," Nino grumbled.

"Babe, you know I love you. But this is way too good an opportunity to pass up."

"Yeah, an opportunity to embarrass me," Nino grumbled as they walked in for their appointment.

"Can I help you," asked the receptionist at the high-end nail salon.

"Yes. Four under Agreste for 12:00?"

"I have your appointment here. Adrien, right?" the woman asked.

"Correct."

"This way please," she said as she led them to the special chairs. They sat in couples, the two men in the middle.

"Okay, so how do we do this?" Nino asked as the girls were getting the nail polish removed from their toenails. He figured that if he was going to make good on this dare he'd better go in all the way. Especially since he had two witnesses to make sure it happened.

"Just take off your shoes and socks and roll up your pant legs to your knees," said Adrien. "The technicians will ask you questions - just be honest with your preferences. Then relax!"

"You're not going to make me paint my nails are you," Nino asked fearfully.

"Yes, but only your toes have to have a color." Adrien looked at his best friend, laughing at the panicked look on his face. "I'm kidding! Just do what I do, and get a clear or neutral color."

"I really hate you right now."

Each person had a dedicated nail technician. The first step was to soak the feet in the special foot bath at the end of the chair. Since he didn't really know what to pick, Nino just followed Adrien's lead.

While their feet soaked the two couples chatted about anything they could think of. Nino hated to admit it, but whatever the nail techs put in the foot bath was very comforting. He didn't even mind when the nail tech trimmed his toenails and filed at his heels, removing the majority of his calluses. The next step however…

"No. No way am I sticking my foot in a bunch of melted wax!"

"Come on, Nino. You promised. And it is part of the dare." Adrien's kitten eyes should be illegal.

"I've got to admit, Sunshine, I've never done the wax treatments during a pedicure before."

"Trust me, Alya, it's worth it," chimed in Marinette. "Adrien brought me here a few weeks ago, and the paraffin wax treatment feels soooooo good!"

Nino gave in. He was surprised at the temperature of the wax - warm, and comforting. The nail tech guided his feet (one at a time) into the wax bath, dipping it several times. They stayed with their feet encased in wax for about 20 minutes while it did its work, then the nail techs removed the wax and threw it away.

Nino couldn't believe how good his feet felt. He even allowed his toenails to be painted - in a clear coat. Then it was time for the manicure.

By the time all was said and done, Nino's hands and feet had never felt softer or looked better. He was grateful that Adrien didn't make him get any color on his nails, though the girls did. He had to admit that their nail art looked cute.

"So. What did you think," Adrien asked with baited breath.

"I still think that you have to do too many girly things to be a model," said Nino. "But I could get used to this."

"Yes! I knew you'd love it," Adrien said as he subtly fist-bumped Marinette.

"Just wait until the next Truth or Dare session, you two," Nino whispered as he smirked and walked out the door.

Chapter Text

Bored Meeting

If Gabriel Agreste never saw another boardroom again, it would be too soon. Especially one where those pompous asses required him to attend in person. Gabriel tried hard to keep his hands from twitching.

Normally he would send Nathalie in his place or attend by video chat, but noooo. Jacques-bloody-Armitage insisted only Gabriel himself would do, and that it had to be in person for "security reasons". Stupid bean counter.

Gabriel felt his eye start to twitch as he drove toward the building in one of Tomoe Tsurugi's robotic cars. Didn't those accountants understand that turning out a quality product required investment? That it took money to advertise? To pay him for his worth as a high end fashion designer? To pay for security for his designs? For his son?

To top it all off the traffic, while heavy, was moving well. That meant he didn't even have the excuse of bad traffic to blame for missing the meeting. Gah. He'd take almost any excuse at this point.

"How long until I arrive, Nathalie?" The cold voice didn't betray any outward emotion, but he certainly felt it.

"About 5 minutes, sir," the calm voice of his assistant said through the tablet. Too short. Way too short…

As these thoughts were going through his head, he spied the lavender wings of his Kwami. The right side of his mouth twitched appreciatively as he said, "Nooroo, dark wings rise." Taking the emergency butterfly from his cane, Hawkmoth used his power to alter the pure white creature.

"Go my little Akuma. Find the person with the most negative emotion near the entrance of the Gabriel building and evilize them!"

Pierre Ennui was not looking forward to the meeting at Gabriel Fashions, especially once he found out that the meeting would be run by Jacques Armitage III. The man may be an excellent accountant, but he was a pompous ass and the meetings he ran were boring as hell since they usually ended up going over statistics in the driest way ever.

It's no wonder Gabriel avoids these things, he thought. Ugh, how in hell am I going to entertain myself at this stupid meeting?

While Ennui was having these thoughts, a dark purple butterfly merged unnoticed to the bluetooth device in his ear and he heard the voice he'd hoped never to hear.

"Bored Meeting, I am Hawkmoth. You are not in the mood to go to the meeting you are required to attend. I give you the power to make others feel the boredom you do."

"You want something in return, right?"

"Really, I just need a diversion. But if you get the chance, you can try for Ladybug's and Chat Noir's miraculouses."

"Well, it's something to do," said Ennui. "I accept, Hawkmoth."

This was by far one of the strangest Akumas they'd ever faced, thought Ladybug as she threw her miraculous cure. The most he did was tie up traffic when his victims became apathetic, refusing to move. Bored Meeting didn't even seem to have the motivation to try for their miraculouses.

"Pound it!" Ladybug and Chat Noir shouted as they did their traditional fist bump, shook their heads, and left in separate directions.

As the superheroes were leaving, the car carrying Hawkmoth was pulling up to the Gabriel building. He de-transformed before getting out of the dark tinted vehicle and made his way to the doors. Finding the building on lockdown due to the Akuma attack, Gabriel Agreste called Jacques Armitage III and proceeded to yell at him for wasting his precious time.

Maybe he'd get a real Akuma out of this after all.

Chapter Text

A Bad Day

“That is IT! I am going to bed before I cataclysm something,” Adrien said as he stormed off toward the stairs. Marinette just watched him go as he stomped away.

It had been a lousy day, especially for Adrien Agreste. And apparently spilling the soda all over the new outfit she made was the last straw.

Marinette just sighed as she calmly cleaned up the mess. It was nobody’s fault, really. She grabbed towels to get most of the liquid up, then did a more thorough cleaning. She figured this would allow him time.

When she was done cleaning up the mess, Marinette headed upstairs to the master bedroom. Putting the used linens in the hamper, she headed to the bathroom where she heard the shower running.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes. No. I don’t know.”

Calmly, Marinette climbed into the shower with her husband and let the water fall over her back as she hugged him. The hug he gave back was almost desperate.

“Bad day, huh?”

“The worst.” He sighed. “There was the board meeting with Father this morning - you know how those always put me on edge. And that Akuma. And I ache all over. Then the kids yelled at each other. And now I’ve ruined that new shirt you made for me.”

“Oh, Chaton, it’s just a shirt.”

“Yeah, but you made it for me.”

“I’ve made other shirts before. And I’ll make more.”

“Not like that one.”

“I’m sure it can be saved, and if not that’s okay. I still have all the materials and the pattern for the shirt.”

Adrien hugged her tighter as she just held him, rubbing his back and simply being there. Once he had calmed down, he kissed his wife.

“Cuddles?”

“Always, Kitty. I love you.”

“Love you, too, Bugaboo.”

Chapter Text

Kitty Noir and Chat Blanc

When she arrived for their scheduled patrol time, Ladybug was concerned. Her partner was pacing back and forth and his face held none of his usual, jovial expression. When she landed, he turned to her.

“Ladybug.”

No ‘Milady’? Hoo boy. “Chat? What’s wrong?”

“You tell me,” he said as he stared her in the eyes. “What’s wrong, Bugaboo? Don’t you trust me any more?”

“Of course I trust you, Chat.”

“It doesn’t feel like it. I know being the Guardian has to be hard so I’ve given you some slack. But you don’t share that burden. You’ve been late to patrols or missed them completely, you made Rena Rouge a permanent holder without even asking my opinion, and now I find out that Rena and Carapace know each other’s identities!”

“H-how do you know that Rena Rouge and Carapace know each other’s identities?”

“Does that matter?” Chat Noir pouted and stared down at their feet. “I feel like I’m being replaced.”

“Oh, Kitty. Nobody could replace you. I couldn’t do this without you. I nearly fell apart when you left your miraculous behind in New York.”

Staring at her face he asked softly, “Then why won’t you let me in, LB? Why can’t I share the load with you? Why can’t we share identities when it would be easier to contact each other outside of the mask? Why won’t you let me in?” Chat tried to hide the tears forming in his eyes, but failed, and Ladybug’s heart broke once again. 

“I can’t, Chat.”

“Why?”

“I just can’t .”

“WHY?”

“Because I’m afraid!”

“Of what?”

“Chat Blanc,” she cried hysterically. “I can’t let Chat Blanc happen.”

“Chat… Blanc?” Chat Noir was thoroughly confused. “Who’s Chat Blanc?”

“You.” The tears started in earnest now. “An akumatized you in an alternate timeline. Bunnyx had to come pick me up out of this timeline so I could stop it. You were so cold, Chat. Ice blue eyes, white hair, and a destroyed Paris. It hurt me so bad to see you that way, and I can’t let it happen again!”

His expression softened a little. “Why didn’t you ever tell me?”

“How could I? [sniff] It didn’t really happen and I didn’t want to worry you.” 

“But you saw it?” She nodded, and Chat reached out to hold her. For once, she accepted his embrace. “So how did it happen, anyway?”

Sniffing, she replied, “I don’t know for [sniff] for sure. All I know is that I was leave... [sniff] leaving my crush’s room. [sniff] I had tried to get in as [sniff] as myself, but ended up dropping the present I made off as Ladybug. The next thing I know, Bunnyx was coming to get me.”

“How bad was it?”

“Chat, it was...” she pursed her mouth as the tears continued to stream down her face.

“Ladybug?”

“I think I may need to sh- [hic] show you. Come on…” 

Chat had no choice but to follow her. Before too long they landed in front of Alix Kubdel.

“Woah, Ladybug! Chat Noir! Are you okay? What’s up?”

The superheroine got right to the point. “Alix, I need you to remember this exact moment. I need to see the Bunnyx of the future so I can show Chat Noir what she showed me.”

About five seconds later, a portal opened up and a blue and white rabbit-themed superhero popped out. 

“Hey, Minibug. Kitty Noir. You called?”

“Hi, Bunnyx. Um, I need to show him the future you had me undo. I tried to describe it, but…”

“Don’t worry, I understand,” she said as she held out two big bowls. Ladybug grabbed Chat with one hand and a bowl with the other. Placing it over her eyes she reached out for Bunnyx, Chat following suit.

“Why do we have these bowls over our heads?”

“Do you want to know every Christmas and birthday present you’re going to get over the next fifty years?”

“Good point.”

It seemed to take forever before they were led to a stop and the bowls were removed. There were all sorts of rounded screens, most of them too fuzzy to see through.

“Wow. That’s a dinosaur!”

“Eyes front, kitty cat. We can’t have you seeing something you shouldn’t.”

“It seemed to take a while to get here, Bunnyx.”

“That’s because we’re in a section of history-that-isn’t, Baby Bug. Timelines that have been fixed, possible alternate futures, stuff like that.”

“So the Chat Blanc timeline is definitely over?”

“Yes. You fixed that.”

Sighing a huge breath of relief, Ladybug said, “Please show him. I just... can’t .”

“Prepare yourself, Kitty Noir. It’s not pleasant,” Bunnyx said as she touched a portal, bringing it into focus. Chat Noir stared at a Paris that was flooded, most buildings drowned, and the Eiffel Tower toppled over on its side. The whole scene also looked as if it were a faded photo.  

“Little kitty on a roof all alone without his Lady…” I recognize that song…

They watched as the burrow opened up and Ladybug and Bunnyx popped out, Bunnyx dropping Ladybug off and heading back to the burrow in case she was needed. Hearing the song, Ladybug was startled.

“Chat Noir?”

“Milady?” The Chat that walked toward Ladybug was definitely not Chat Noir. It looked like him, except he was wearing white from head to toe and even his hair was white. “I thought I’d lost you. Oh, I was feline so sad that you were gone.”

Chat Noir watched as Ladybug tried to say she’d help fix things, and the madness in his ice blue eyes as his akumatized self tried to get her miraculous. Watched as he asked Ladybug to save him and said the akuma was in his broken heart. Watched as Ladybug tripped Chat Blanc, then ran to throw herself off of what was left of Montparnasse Tower…

Watched as Chat Blanc ran after Ladybug yelling, “Now you’re breaking more than my heart, Marinette!” Watched as a startled Ladybug ran away from the akuma.

“... Marinette?” Chat Noir looked toward Ladybug, who was scowling at Bunnyx. “Is that true, Milady?”

“Bunnyx… what the hell?”

“In a minute, Minibug. Keep watching, Kitty Noir. You need to understand.”

Ladybug closed her eyes, shaking. “I can’t go through it again. Even watching like this.”

“It’s okay, Milady. I’m right here.” Chat Noir opened his arms in offering and Ladybug accepted, clinging desperately.

“Just don’t [sniff] don’t make me watch, okay?”

“I’m right here. I’ve got you, Bugaboo.” Chat Noir nodded at Bunnyx, who restarted the playback.

“Things were purrfect until Hawkmoth found out about everything,” Chat Blanc was saying. “Once the cat is out of the bag it’s only a matter of time until everyone knows. It was our love that did this to the world, Milady.”

“Our love,” Chat Noir mused, comforting the spotted heroine trembling in his arms.

He continued to watch the battle as time after time, Chat Blanc used his super-cataclysm to attack, and Ladybug dodged the blasts. Watched in horror as a submerged Ladybug touched what appeared to be a stone statue of herself, but was actually ash that drifted away in the current when she touched it.  Watched as his akumatized self threatened to unleash a mega-cataclysm so large it would destroy everything… until Ladybug agreed to give him her miraculous.

Coming up to him she said, “You will always be Chat Noir to me,” and looked like she was about to kiss him when she pulled off his bell, then freed and purified Chat Blanc’s akuma. Bunnyx popped out of her Burrow. “Yes! Yes, you did it, Minibug!”

But then the other Chat Noir asked ‘Marinette’ what happened, and Ladybug decided that he still shouldn’t know her name. So she took her the eraser her lucky charm had conjured up and left into the Burrow with Bunnyx. 

“That was… hard to watch, Milady. I can’t imagine how it was to live through it. Or that I would do those things to you.”

“You were akumatized, Chat. It wasn’t you. But I can’t … I can’t let it happen again.”

“And that’s why you’ve been so afraid to open up to me? Because Chat Blanc knew your identity and said our love destroyed the world?” 

Ladybug nodded.

“And are you really Marinette?”

Still somewhat shocked, she turned again towards Bunnyx. “Why didn’t you bleep out my name? This is a disaster.”

“No, it isn’t, Minibug.”

“It’s not?”

Looking her in the eye, Bunnyx said, “Let me put it this way. If it hadn’t been for Chat Blanc, would you have revealed your identity to Chat Noir by now? Think about everything that’s happened since you became the Guardian before you say anything.”

Ladybug thought about all that had happened in recent weeks, and exactly why Rena Rouge was now a permanent holder.

Looking Chat Noir in the eye she decided to trust him with everything she had been keeping from him. “The pressure of being Guardian has been getting to me. I broke up with my boyfriend because I always had to run off to fight akumas. I nearly lost my friends, but Alya stayed behind to give me support.  I had a breakdown, and ended up telling her my identity as Ladybug. She’s my best friend, Chat.”

“You really are Marinette, aren’t you?” he asked in wonder. 

“Yes, Kitty. Spots off!” Marinette stood there, vulnerable before her partner. “I’m so sorry if it felt like I was ignoring you. I really can’t do this without you. And having Alya as a civilian backup has been fantastic! When I was captured by one of Sentibubbler’s bubbles, along with her family, she was able to create an illusion of Ladybug until I could get free.”

“I’m disappointed that you didn’t trust me with your burden as Guardian, but after seeing Chat Blanc I understand why. I’m glad you have the support of a friend like Alya. That reminds me though… what did you do with that lucky charm I saw?”

“The eraser? I, um, erased my name from a present.”

“Huh?”

“I, um, may be a bit of a coward when it comes to expressing my feelings. I have tried so many times to tell the boy I love how I feel but every time I do, something happens. Like Chat Blanc, or I forget to sign the card, or he thinks the present is from someone else. This time I dropped off a present for his fifth name’s day, and wrote my name on the gift. He must have seen me go out the window as Ladybug and put two and two together. I don’t know what happened, but somehow that led to you knowing my identity and from that you ended up as Chat Blanc.”

“Okay, now I have to ask, who is this other boy that has your heart? I’ve never seen you crush on anyone.”

“You wouldn’t understand. He gave me his umbrella on a rainy day as he apologized for a misunderstanding. I’ve loved him ever since.”

“Wait. Wait… you’re in love with Adrien Agreste? All this time?”

“How did you know he gave me an umbrella?”

Laughing, Chat called for his detransformation. Marinette found her hand in front of her mouth as her mind started spiraling out of control.

“No. No, no, no, no… Kitty?”

Bunnyx grinned and began to laugh as she waved her hands, pointing. “I told you that the two of you were more like … [she waved her hands all over the place like she did when they first met during Timetagger]. Honestly, I was getting sick of you two dancing around each other.”

“Me, too! Got any camembert?” Tikki just stared at her counterpart. 

“Oh, shut up you,” Adrien said as he threw a piece of the foul smelling dairy product at Plagg. Marinette followed suit and gave Tikki a macaron. 

Then Adrien turned to his partner. “So let me get this straight. You once told me as Chat Noir that you couldn’t accept my affection because it would feel like lying because you were in love with another boy. And that boy is me, Adrien?”

Marinette hid her head in her hands and squeaked “Yes.”

“I always knew you were special. Truth be told, I’ve noticed you as Marinette more and more lately. Now it makes sense why.”

“You two have been dancing around each other for way too long. You both love each other, and now is the best time for your reveal. In fact, if you hadn’t… well, I don’t want to think about it.”

“And you’re sure Chat Blanc won’t happen again?”

“I looked into that. Part of the reason Chat Blanc happened was because the reveal was only one-sided. The balance was lost. The balance was being lost this time because you were afraid of a repeat of Chat Blanc. This way, you are in balance. Let’s keep it that way, okay?”

Adrien smiled a genuine smile for the first time since he found out about Rena Rouge and Carapace’s identities. “You and me against the world, right Milady?”

“Are you really okay with me being Marinette?”

“Are you okay with me being Adrien?”

“It will definitely take some time to reconcile the model with the superhero, but I look forward to getting to know the real you. Partner.”

“Partner. Pound it?”

“One thing first. Tell me how you discovered Rena Rouge’s and Carapace’s identities.”

“Nino told me. Well, he told Adrien-me.”

“Then tell him your identity, Kitty. I’m sure you need him just as much as I need Alya.”

“That’s a deal, Buginette.”

“Hey, uh, Minibug? Kitty Noir?,” Bunnyx said as she held out the bowls. “It’s time to go.”

If Alix was surprised to see a portal open about five seconds after the Burrow closed, she didn’t show it. The two Heroes of Paris popped out of the portal, hand-in-hand. 

“Thanks for everything, Bunnyx.”

“No problem, Minibug. Kitty Noir.” She looked at them seriously. “You two are going to be okay. Just trust yourself and trust each other. I’ll show up if I’m needed.”

“Okay. Thanks, Bunnyx. For everything.”

Bunnyx smiled, then waved and disappeared into the Burrow.

Ignoring Alilx, Chat Noir addressed his partner. “Are you okay, Milady?”

“Oh, trust me. I’m going to have a proper freak out when I get home. I’m sure I’ll be fine once I’m done.”

Chat Noir smiled at that, because it was so very Marinette. “Call me tonight once the freak out is over?”

“If not, then  I’ll see you at school tomorrow, okay?”

“Okay. Pound it?”

“Pound it.”

After their traditional fist bump, the two superheroes took off, leaving Alix behind. She popped a bubble in her gum. “Well, that was something.”

Chapter Text

This time, it's personal...

Ladybug felt the pressure. Sometimes it seemed like people didn’t appreciate what she did for Paris. As a superhero, she wasn't allowed to make mistakes, she couldn’t let personal feelings get in the way of her duty.

But she was human.

What do you do when your job requires you to be professional, even stoic, but inside you are hurting? You go home and cry.

Sometimes after a particularly nasty akuma, especially if the akumatized victim was someone she knew or if it was a particularly sad situation, Marinette would find herself on her bed bawling into her cat pillow. Tikki would try to comfort her, cuddling her cheek and speaking words of encouragement. At other times she’d just ask her parents for a hug, saying she had a bad day - the problem with that is they would want her to talk about it, and she couldn’t. Well, not about superhero stuff.

Other days, she’d find herself sitting on a rooftop, cuddling with Chat Noir as she let the tears out. Sometimes, he’d cry with her. She was very grateful to him for that. He was the best friend and partner she could ask for. 

The question that kept coming to mind was, Is it worth it?

Some days, like today, that answer was no. Because nobody could know her superhero identity, she had to lie to her parents, to her friends, to her boyfriend, and to her former crush. She couldn’t even tell Chat the whole truth without compromising her identity, and with how many times Master Fu and Tikki both drilled identities must be kept secret! into her, not to mention the horror of Chat Blanc, she knew there was no way she could let him find out her real name.

But how in the name of all the Kwamis was she supposed to go on? Hawkmoth’s akumas were getting harder to beat, Lila was getting worse, her friends kept pestering her about what was wrong, and even though Luka was an understanding soul, there was only so much ditching dates she could do before he started asking questions. If something didn’t give way soon, Marinette was going to have a nervous breakdown.

So here she was on a random rooftop pacing back and forth, lost in her head. Citizens waved at her from far below, but she ignored them. She was so lost in her thoughts that she didn’t notice anything else, which is why she let out a startled Marinette-esque cry when Chat Noir touched her on the shoulder.

“Sorry, Bugaboo, I didn’t mean to scare you.”

Holding her chest and trying to calm her breathing, Ladybug stared at her partner. “Well, you did!”

“Woah, LB. Angry much?”

“Yes! … No! … I don’t know!”

“Okay, something is definitely wrong. You aren’t usually this oblivious. What’s going on?”

Ladybug stared at her partner, and felt the tears gathering in her eyes. She didn’t want to cry, she really didn’t, but today was too much.

“It’s just… everything. Ugh.”

“Everything?” Chat hated to see his Lady’s bluebell eyes so watery. He held out his arms, and she accepted the hug.

“Everything,” she sniffed. “It’s all just piling up on me today. You know how stressful being a superhero is, having to lie to everyone so we can go fight Akumas.”

“Of course I do.”

“Add to that normal stuff like homework, friends, a job. You understand that too, right?”

“I didn’t know you had a job.”

“Part time with the family business.”

“Me, too! Another thing we have in common. Do you like your job?”

“Chat! Not now. Identities.”

“Right.”

Ladybug huffed. “Now add being the Guardian.”

“That has to be stressful, LB. But I’m here for you. You and me against the world, remember?”

Ladybug nodded, but then teared up again as she remembered what happened today. “And Lila!”

“Lila Rossi? What about her?”

“She knows me. Well, she knows me as a civilian. It seems to be her goal in life to make mine miserable. She threatened to take all my friends away. And to ruin my chances with the boy I’m in love with. And at times, I think she’s succeeding.” Chat Noir flinched, heartbroken at the reminder that his Lady was in love with someone else. But right now it was about her, not about his bruised feelings. 

Meanwhile, Ladybug continued the verbal diarrhea. “And I’m trying to be just friends with him, but it’s so hard, Chat! I get so nervous around him all the time and I wonder if he thinks I’m a spaz or if I hate him. And Luka is there, and he’s calm and mellow, and he calms me and wants to date me but I’m not sure I want to date him. And then there’s you, the most perfect partner and best friend I could ask for, and you left me in New York, and I was so scared, and I can’t do this without you, and I’m glad you came back but I’m afraid you’re going to leave again, and I’m the Guardian now and I have to protect all the Kwamis from stupid Hawkmoth, and the Guardian should know who all the holders are and I’m afraid to reveal my identity to you because I don’t want our love to destroy the world like it did before, and I still have nightmares about that, and I’m so behind on my commissions, and I haven’t played video games in too long, and stupid Hawkmoth and his stupid Akumas interrupt my sleep, and I’m exhausted , and Lila lied in class again and made it seem like I’m the one bullying her, and I just can’t handle it! Not today!” Ladybug shook with tears as she broke down sobbing in her partner’s arms, letting it all out and for once allowing herself to be human.

Chat Noir just held his partner in his arms, rubbing her back and trying to calm her down while internally he was screaming. The boy she’s in love with. Luka wants to date her but she’s not sure. And our love destroyed the world? And Lila knows her as a civilian? And seems to have a goal to make her miserable? He knew someone like that in his civilian life. A girl who was amazing in her own way. An everyday Ladybug.

“It's okay, Mm...y Lady. Let it out. I’m here for you. I’ll make sure no Akumas get you today.” 

The girl in his arms sniffed again. “Thank you, Kitty. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

Chat Noir kissed Ladybug on her cheek, then whispered, “It’s okay, Mari. I’m here.”

Ladybug stiffened. What?!?  

“No. Oh, no. No, no, no. You can’t know who I am! I have to prevent that awful future!”

“The one that gives you nightmares?” Ladybug nodded. “What happened, Ladybug?”

Trembling, Ladybug decided to finally share the burden of Chat Blanc with her partner. “All I know is that Bunnyx from the future came and picked me up to save an akumatized you in the future. Paris was destroyed, Chat. Devastated. And you said it was our love that destroyed the world. And you knew my name.”

“You saved me?”

“Yes, Kitty. But your akumatized form was so cold. So alone. My heart broke for you. I don’t want that to happen again.”

“Look at me, Bugaboo. Whatever Bunnyx needed you to fix, you fixed. Right? So it’s over.”

“But I don’t want it to happen again.”

“Ladybug, is Bunnyx here?”

“No?” she squeaked and he hugged her tighter. 

“No. And nothing else bad is happening, so we’re okay.”

“I suppose so.”

“Okay, so that’s one thing off your plate. And I’m willing to help you with Guardian stuff, if you let me. I’ll also help you with Lila at school. Why didn’t you tell us that she threatened you?”

“Well, at the time I didn’t think she could pull it off. But she did get me expelled for a little while.”

Chat smiled to himself. That sinches it!  

“Wait, us?”

“Your friends, Princess. So… tell me about this boy you love. Luka?”

“Luka isn’t the boy I love, but I think he loves me. And I just can’t give my whole heart to Luka while I’m crushing on … him.”

“So if it’s not Luka, then who is it?”

“You said you’re my friend at school, right?” Chat nodded. “Then you should know. Everybody knows. Well, except him I guess. I mean it’s so obvious with the way I mix up my words, and trip, and everything.”

“But the only one I’ve seen you mix up words in front of like that… is… “ Chat stopped cold. “Wait. You’re in love with m...odel boy Adrien Agreste?”

“Uh, huh. But I can’t seem to get two coherent words out in front of him. And every time I try to confess my feelings, something goes wrong.”

“Like what?”

“Chat Blanc was the worst of them, but I also recorded a video on the anniversary of his mother’s disappearance which got erased by his cousin, and the girls and I set up this elaborate plan where we’d ride together in a rickshaw - and I called it a coleslaw! Stuff like that.”

“But why him? Why the pretty faced, daddy’s boy supermodel and not me? I know you too well to think you’d be shallow, so why?”

Ladybug gave a humorless chuckle. “Honestly, Chat, if it wasn’t for Adrien and Chat Blanc, I’d probably have fallen for you a long time ago. I do love you, you know, but Adrien had my heart first and I haven’t been able to let him go.”

“But what’s so great about him? He’s a mask.”

“Not all the time. Do you know about the first day I met him?”

“You thought he was putting gum on your seat and was really mad. And he’s been trying to make up for it ever since.”

“Wow, you really do go my school, don’t you?” Chat nodded. “About the gum… my anger dropped the moment he apologized on the school steps in the rain. He gave me his umbrella, did you know that? Gave the girl who’d misjudged him his only umbrella and walked to the car in the rain. But not before I heard him laugh. A genuine, heartfelt laugh and a smile that could put the sun to shame. I fell in love with him then. I’d do anything to see his real smile more often, to help him relax out of that … persona forced on him by his father’s expectations. To get him out of the house he’s trapped in. And I want to get to know the real him.”

“Oh, Bugaboo.” Chat Noir kissed Ladybug’s head. “You do know the real him. And he’s been wondering why you can’t string two words in front of him. Princess, look at me.”

Ladybug’s tear-streaked face looked into cat-slit pupils. “Really look at me, Marinette,” he whispered. “What would you say if I told you your prince charming runs around in magical leather fighting bad guys and making puns.”

“I…” Could it be? Ladybug reached up to Chat Noir’s hair, smoothing it and imaging it with Adrien’s usual style. She imagined white scleras and green pupils, which she now remembered that Chat had as Mr. Bug. She placed her hand on his face, imagining flesh instead of a black mask. “Is it really you?”

Adrien rubbed the back of his neck as he tried to figure out a way to confirm his identity without de-transforming or saying his name outright. Quietly he said, “I’m starting to regret ever telling you to take the higher ground with Lila. If I’d have known she threatened you...” 

“Ohmigod, it is you! But.. how… when… wait, I know when. It’s been you this whole time?” Adrien smiled gently and nodded. Ladybug narrowed her eyes. “What about Aspik?”

“Yeah. Plagg wasn’t too happy about that one.”

“I bet.”

“So what about Multimouse?”

“I had the fox miraculous.”

“Of course! Leave it to you to have a plan.”

The conversation between the two heroes went on like this, the unexpected reveal having an overall calming effect on Marinette, until Ladybug suddenly punched Chat Noir on the shoulder.

“What was that for?”

“Does the phrase ‘just a friend’ ring a bell?”

Adrien had the good grace to blush. “What can I say? I had spots in my eyes.” Ladybug punched his shoulder again. “Hey!”

“I know you really love Ladybug. You said as much during Glaciator. I have to ask - do you love Ladybug more than Marinette?”

“I love Ladybug because she is Marinette.” At her startled look, he went on. “I’d already seen you struggle just before your speech on the Eiffel Tower during Stonehart. I saw how brave you were in facing your inner demons, and I vowed that whoever you were underneath the mask that I’d love you. Now that I’m thinking about it, I’ve seen that confidence in my classmate. You stand up to bullies, you make a great class president, and you are always looking out for our classmates. There’s a reason I call you our Everyday Ladybug. I just never thought about the possibility of you being the regular Ladybug too.”

Ladybug reached out to cradle Chat Noir’s cheek. “You helped me find courage that day, and many times since. I really can’t be Ladybug without you, and there’s no one else I want by my side.”

“Then don’t. It’s you and me against the world out here. Can it be you and me against the world as civilians as well?”

“Adrien Cat Noir Agreste, are you asking me what I think you’re asking?”

“Marinette Milady Dupain-Cheng, would you be my girlfriend?”

“If you told me a day ago that LadyNoir would be a thing, I’d have denied it.”

“Is that a yes?”

Smiling the first genuine smile she’d had in days, Marinette said “Yes, silly Kitty,” and bopped Chat Noir on the nose - just before kissing him.

“I don’t know about you, Bugaboo, but I feel better.”

“I could stay here like this forever.”

“Unfortunately we have school tomorrow, and this cat needs his beauty sleep. You going to be okay?”

“Absolutely. See you tomorrow?”

“Absolutely!”

And with that the two heroes parted ways for the night.

“Dude! You’re here early.”

“Hey, Nino.” Adrien couldn’t help smiling.

“And you’re in a good mood. What’s up?”

“Oh, nothing much.” Adrien rubbed the back of his neck, eyes shining with glee.

“Morning, Sunshine. Morning, handsome.”

“Morning, babe,” Nino greeted his girlfriend as she was walking up.

“What’s the occasion?”

“I don’t know. Adrien was here when I arrived.”

Alya looked at the teenage supermodel. “You’re not usually waiting for us. Something’s up.”

“Can’t a guy just want to greet his friends before school?”

“It’s possible. But you gotta admit, it’s unusual.”

“What’s unusual?” 

“Woah, girl, you startled me! I wasn’t expecting you yet,” Alya greeted her best friend.

“Morning, dudette.”

“Morning, Mari.”

“Morning, guys! Croissant?”

“Love to!”

“Seconded.”

“Thanks, Marinette. Your family’s baking is so good, I’ll take all I can baguette.” The grin on Adrien’s face was pure Cat Noir.

Nino facepalmed at the pun, while Alya groaned and Marinette rolled her eyes fondly before she heard a noise.

“Your stomach rumbling seems to agree with you. Didn’t you eat this morning?”

Adrien shook his head. “Too much going on to think about eating.”

“Good thing I brought extra, then. We can’t have you starve. And I’m pretty sure your dietician doesn’t know how active you really are.”

Adrien laughed. “You’re right about that, Princess. Shall we?” 

With that the four friends headed to their homeroom class, Adrien and Marinette laughing and joking like old buddies, holding hands and bumping shoulders as they walked together. The look in Alya’s eyes was pure mischief as she vowed to get to the details, no matter how long it took. 

As they walked toward Madame Bustier’s class, a cry of “Adrikins!” assaulted their ears. The blonde tornado known as Chloe hugged Adrien as he gently guided Marinette safely to one side. The surprisingly gentle hug was released as Chloe whispered, “It’s about time you realized your feelings, you idiot.” The couple were stunned as the socialite then walked away, saying “You two are ridiculous. Utterly ridiculous!”

“Well, that was something I never thought I’d see,” said Marinette.

“Told you she had a good side buried in there somewhere.”

As the students started gathering in their homeroom class, Adrien escorted his girlfriend to her seat. Before he could sit in his own place, Alya slipped into it with a wink and nodded toward her vacated seat.. “I want to sit next to my boyfriend today, Sunshine. You okay with that?”

Blushing and rubbing his neck, Adrien nodded with a grin on his face. It was at this point that Lila walked in.

“Um, excuse me but aren’t you in the wrong seats?” she asked, batting her eyes.

“Oh, who elected you Queen of Seats?” asked Chloe. “Go on. Go to your own seat.” Alya looked stunned at the reminder. What in the hell was going on?

“Look, I want to sit next to Nino today, and Adrien graciously switched places with me. If Madame Bustier has a problem with it, we’ll switch back. Okay?”

Not wanting to come off as the “mean girl”, Lila swallowed her pride. She was playing the long game, after all. “Okay, Alya. Sure.”

“Hey, Lila. Can I talk to you for a minute?”

“Sure, Adrien.”

“I’ll be right back, Princess. Keep my seat warm for me?”

“Anything for my Prince Charming.”

As Adrien and Lila walked to the corner, Alya turned around. “Deets! When did this happen?”

“What?”

“Oh don’t play the oblivious card with me, Marinette. Since when have you quit stuttering and tripping in front of Adrien… ADRIEN?!?”

“Since I realized he was a massive, pun-loving dork who accepts me as I am.” And runs around in a magical leather catsuit.

“Well congratulations. I always knew you two belonged together. Now if only Ladybug and Chat Noir would realize they’re made for each other…”

“You know something Alya, I think I’m coming around to that point of view…”

“Okay, who are you and what did you do with my best friend. Marinette Dupain-Cheng, the girl with a crush so massive she can’t say to words in front of him and who always says Ladybug sees Chat Noir as her partner and nothing more?” Reaching out to touch the Franco-Chinese girl’s forehead, Alya said, “Are you delirious or something?”

“Yeah, deliriously happy. But the way I see it, I found my happiness, why can’t they?” The smile on her face was big, beautiful, and somewhat enigmatic.

In the meantime, Adrien had brought Lila over to the corner where they couldn’t be overheard easily. Pasting a model-smile on his face he said, “Our deal is off, Rossi. I’m no longer going to pretend to be your friend. And if you ever threaten or attack Marinette again, I will end you.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Don’t play dumb with me. I’ve known you were a liar ever since the beginning. I know how the game is played. If you want to play against me, remember that I learned the rules from Gabriel Agreste himself.” Dropping his voice to a more menacing register he said, “You won’t lose… you’ll be destroyed.”

Chapter Text

Stop making decisions out of fear

Su-Han, the Celestial Guardian of the Miraculous, wanted - no, demanded to know Chat Noir’s secret identity after he wasn’t able to show up to an Akuma attack, and wasn’t pleased that Ladybug didn’t know it. She didn’t really know what had happened to her plan to use Viperion’s “Second Chance” ability to learn Chat’s identity, then erase it from her memory, but something major must have gone wrong because time was all messed up and it meant that she and Chat had to fix a GPS satellite. In no uncertain terms, Ladybug told the ancient Guardian that he was letting his fear control his actions. Now Ladybug and Viperion were in the sewer tunnels so he could turn the snake Miraculous back to her care.

Luka was just about to de-transform, when a thought occurred to him. Ladybug didn’t know it, but he already knew both Chat’s identity and hers, and he also knew how much the two superheroes were pining for each other without knowing it. So he took a chance.

“Ladybug, something you said to Su-Han got me thinking.”

“Oh, really? What is it?”

“You said that the reason he was demanding Chat Noir’s identity was because of his fears.”

“And he is.”

“Well, I think you should take your own advice.”

Ladybug huffed a little. “What do you mean?”

“I mean your plan to discover Chat Noir’s identity,” Luka said as he de-transformed. “Instead of just letting Chat know what was going on and letting him help you, you planned to use Second Chance to learn his identity, then forget it. And the consequences were dire, Ladybug. Just look at how exhausted Sass is.”

Ladybug crossed her arms and stared at her former boyfriend, even as she studied the little snake Kwami. “Your point?” she asked as she held her hand out for the miraculous.

“The point, Ladybug, is that you are afraid.”

“Of what?”

“I don’t know exactly, but I have a few guesses based on your inner melody. You are afraid of being the Guardian.”

“I was given guardianship in the heat of battle. I didn’t have much choice.”

“Ah, but you are afraid to share that responsibility. Why not share it with Chat Noir?”

“I can’t.”

“You can, but you won’t. Anyone who knows you knows that you have feelings for Chat Noir that you are afraid to face.”

“Why does everyone think I’m in love with Chat Noir? I’m not!” she denied. “He’s my best friend and my partner, and I couldn’t be Ladybug without him. But that’s all.”

“I never said anything about love,” Luka gently reminded her as he touched her shoulder. “But there is obviously something in your relationship with Chat that you are afraid of. And it’s hurting your relationship with him.”

Ladybug gasped. She hadn’t told anyone about Chat Blanc, but it was true that he still haunted her nightmares.

“From your reaction, I’ll guess that I was right. Something about Chat Noir is troubling you, and you are afraid to talk to him about it. So take your own advice, Ladybug, and stop acting out of fear.” He smiled as he handed the snake bracelet back to Ladybug. “I bet you are letting fear prevent you from doing at least one thing in your personal life as well.”

Shock on her face and tears forming in her eyes, Ladybug looked at the departing teen. “Thank you, Luka,” she whispered. “I’ll think about it.”

Chapter Text

Practice Makes Perfect

Gabriel Agreste, fashion designer extraordinaire, was sure he’d heard Adrien swear a moment ago, but that would be impossible. He’d made sure his son was as perfect as he could be and swearing was something an Agreste just did not do. At least not where anyone could hear you. 

“Stupid shoes. Who designed these things!”

Well, now that just would not do. Adrien was a model for the Gabriel brand, for heaven’s sake. It wasn’t his place to criticize the clothes he displayed. Picking up his pace, Gabriel arrived at his son’s room. What greeted him was unexpected. Adrien was walking in a pair of pumps.

“ What are you doing?”

Adrien jumped at the cold question from his father, but then he straightened up and replied. “Practicing.”

“Practicing? Whatever for?”

“Well, you never know when an outfit will have a bit of a heel. And some of those avant garde outfits are very …”

“...strange?”

“That’s one way to put it. Plus I hear girls complaining about how the shoes hurt their feet all the time, so I figured why not?”

“What brought this on?”

“You know that akuma we had the other day that turned everyone into carbon copies of herself, Reflekta?”

“Yes.”

“Yeah, well, I got hit by her beam. It was embarrassing tripping over my feet.”

“I see.”

Adrien started walking around the room again, but nearly turned his ankle. “Damn!”

“Try balancing on the balls of your feet instead of the heel.”

Adrien tried it. “Like this?”

Looking with a critical eye, Gabriel studied his son’s walk. “Not bad, but maybe like this?” He demonstrated what he meant. 

Adrien tried again, and it seemed to go a little better. “You know something, Father? This reminds me of playing in Mother’s clothes when I was little. I loved how she smiled when I played dress up.”

Gabriel actually smiled at the memory. “She loved being silly with us as a family.” It was so rare for him to smile any more, but perhaps…

Adrien sighed as his father walked out of his room, but was surprised when he came back a few minutes later - with another pair of his mother’s high heeled shoes and some knee-high nylon stockings.

“Take those off for a minute. They’ll work better with these.” He handed Adrien a pair, and took one for himself before sitting down and putting them on. Soon enough, the two men were both walking around in Emilie’s shoes.

They didn’t know how long they’d been at it when they heard the surprised voice of one Nathalie Sancoeur. “What, in the name of all that’s holy, are you two dong?” she asked.

Looking at each other for a moment, the two Agrestes smiled before turning to the executive assistant and saying (at the same time), “Practicing.”

Chapter Text

The origin of Weather Girl

Flooding wasn’t new to Paris, not by a long shot. In fact, one could almost count on flooding every year. For some reason, the storms this year were worse than ever, and flooding threatened the inhabitants of Paris. Schools and businesses were closed as people flocked to either secure their own homes or to help other people in the city. Ladybug and Chat Noir wasted no time in calling out the other heroes. They even called on new heroes, and so every single miraculous in Ladybug’s possession was being used - except the newly recovered peacock. (Poor Duusuu needed to rest.)

For his part, Gabriel closed his factories and designated his office building as a safe shelter for those in need until the authorities declared the emergency over. But that didn’t seem to be enough. The superheroes looked overwhelmed, even with everything they could do.

For about the hundredth time, Gabriel took the small package out of his pocket and stared at it. He had renounced Nooroo completely, but then there was the emergency. Hesitantly, he opened the small box and held the butterfly brooch in his hand.

Once again, Gabriel debated with himself. He could go to the office, but Nathalie had things well in hand - like always - and Adrien was safe with the Dupain-Chengs. Besides, he was feeling a little useless sitting here like this. He pinned on the miraculous, and saw the expected magical whirl of lavender that accompanied his one-time … well, slave if he were being honest.

Nooroo looked at his former (new?) holder and crossed his arms. “I was expecting to see the Guardian, Gabriel.”

“I know, Nooroo. And I was planning on turning you over today. But Paris is in the middle of a natural disaster, and the heroes have their hands full. It looks like they’ve called out every miraculous in the miracle box. Except you and the peacock.” He took a deep breath. “I need to help, Nooroo. The right way. But I’m not sure how.” Gabriel didn’t want to admit it, but he was also a little scared. “Will you help me save Paris?”

Nooroo felt his new (former?) holder’s sincerity. “Of course, Gabriel. This is what I am meant to do. Do you have a champion in mind?”

“Yes, if she’ll accept me. Also, is there a way to make sure the costume doesn’t look like my old Hawkmoth costume?”

“The superhero costume’s appearance is attuned to your subconscious. So make sure you think very clearly about what you want before you transform. You know the words.”

=^.^= =^.^= =^.^= =^.^= =^.^= =^.^= =^.^= =^.^= =^.^= =^.^= =^.^= =^.^= =^.^=

Aurore Beauréal was pacing in her living room after watching the most recent weather report. It looked like her nana’s neighborhood was in one of the hardest hit arrondissements. She was over seventy years old, and Aurore was worried! The next thing she knew, she felt something touch her mind.

“Aurore, I can feel your worry for your grandmother. I can help you save her, and a lot of other Parisians as well.”

Hawkmoth?, she thought. No. No, no, No NO! I don’t want to be Stormy Weather again! Those powers will only make things worse!

Young Lady, the voice said. I am not Hawkmoth. I am…

Yeah, right. And I’m Ladybug!

Okay, I can see why you wouldn’t believe me. Look, I may wield the butterfly miraculous, but Hawkmoth is no more. You may call me Monarch.

Uh huh. “Monarch” was it? I’ll believe you when you face me IN PERSON.

Hawkmoth is gone, and good riddance! I’m just borrowing the butterfly miraculous for this disaster. Then I’ll turn it over to Ladybug, just like the rest of the temporary heroes.

I don’t believe you.

I can see that. Look out your window Aurore. At the roof across the street.

When Aurore checked the rooftop in question, she saw a man. He was dressed in a simple lavender colored oxford shirt with deep purple trousers, a butterfly-shaped mask over his eyes, and large butterfly wings sprouting from his back. He also had what appeared to be Hawkmoth’s cane.

Still suspicious, the teenage girl asked, What do you want in exchange?

Introduce yourself to Ladybug’s team first.

That’s it?

That’s it.

You’re sure?

Yes. Just accept the tenshi*.

“Tenshi?”

The opposite of an akuma. The true power of the butterfly miraculous is to create a powerful champion who can fight on the butterfly weilder’s behalf.

Sounds way too much like Hawkmoth.

Hawkmoth’s power was a corruption of the true butterfly miraculous’s power. I’m using it the way it’s meant to be weilded.

Gabriel could feel Aurore starting to waver, but she wasn’t quite ready to accept the power yet.

Look, I’ll make you a deal. Your former Stormy Weather powers can be extremely useful to the heroes. You become my champion and I’ll give you the good version of those powers. You will be in control just as much as I am. I only reserve the right to take the power back if you abuse it.

And I’m in control?

Yes. You have the power to accept and reject the power. You can choose your hero name and outfit. And you will remember everything that happens.

Aurore thought about it. Okay, Monarch. I accept those terms.

=^.^= =^.^= =^.^= =^.^= =^.^= =^.^= =^.^= =^.^= =^.^= =^.^= =^.^= =^.^= =^.^=

Ladybug was in the middle of coordinating the superhero effort with the local emergency services, trying to get people to safety. It was pure chaos. The next thing she knew, Chat Noir was tackling her.

“Ladybug, look out!” He pointed up in the air.

“Stormy Weather? Just what we need.” She sighed and prepared to fight. “So much for giving up,” she muttered.

“Hey, Coldilocks, long time no see?” Chat got right into his normal routine of taunting. “I hope you’re not here to make things worse.”

The akuma stayed right where she was, not approaching or using her power. Instead she called to the heroes while everyone was watching.

“Ladybug! Chat Noir! I’m not here to fight, I’m here to help.”

“Come on, Stormy. You know we can’t believe what an akuma says.”

The girl in the air sighed. “He said that you might not believe me. I was afraid of him at first myself, until I realized he wasn’t Hawkmoth. Look, it’s me! Aurore Beauréal, though in this form I suppose you can call me Weather Girl. Where do you want me?”

“What do you think, Milady?”

“I don’t know yet, I’m thinking.”

Just then, the (non?) akuma got the signature mask over her eyes, indicating that she was talking with Hawkmoth… but truthfully, it did look a little different, as did she. “Monarch says he’ll be here shortly, and to just direct us. My powers are to control the weather. Please, I just want to help. Perhaps I can help calm these winds down.”

“No!” Ladybug cried out, but too late. Weather Girl waved her umbrella at the storm… and it calmed. Everyone was staring at the akuma, when they heard a new voice.

“Nicely done, Weather Girl. Are you okay to continue?” The speaker stood on a roof, just below where Weather Girl was hovering, and next to the rooftop where Ladybug was coordinating the superheroes.
“I want to check on my nana first, but then I’m good to go.”

“Hold on a minute. Nobody’s going anywhere until I figure out what the hell is going on. You!” Ladybug pointed at the man on the roof. “Stay right there. Weather Girl, come down here, please.”

With no fuss, the two new super powered people did just as they were told.

“Okay, not that I’m not happy to have someone that can control the weather on our side for once, but with everything that’s gone on in the past, I don’t trust this.” Ladybug stared at ‘Monarch’ and called to him. “Release her.”

“Ladybug, it’s okay, I promise,” Weather Girl said. “Just promise me that you’ll look after my nana’s building next, okay? I’m worried about her.” She stared into the heroine’s eyes. “I release my power.” With that, a lavender and white power bubbled over her, and a sparkling white and light purple powered butterfly flew back to the butterfly superhero, who de-powered it and stored it in his cane.

Chat Noir went to the girl. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, Chat Noir. Just please, help my nana as soon as you can.”

“What do you remember?” Ladybug sounded anxious.

“Everything. You really scared me for a minute there when I first saw you. I started to think we’d end up in a fight.”

“Everything?”

“Everything. Including telling off who I thought was Hawkmoth when he first touched my mind. He said Hawkmoth is no more, and he’s just borrowing the miraculous. Is that true?”

Staring into the butterfly holder’s eyes, Ladybug said, “It looks like it.”

Chapter Text

There You Are ...

Chat Noir was in trouble.

The Akuma struck about halfway through the lunch period, and was nothing short of brutal. You wouldn’t think that a teenager’s imaginary friend could do so much damage, but the evidence proved otherwise. Damn Hawkmoth!

This particular imaginary friend was the akumatized victim’s protector. It was also invisible. They’d already been fighting it for hours in and around the school, and Chat had wasted a Cataclysm on what turned out to be a reflection. Now he was hurrying to find a place to detransform and recharge Plagg.

Rushing into the boy’s bathroom at Francois Dupont, Chat barely made sure the door was closed before his transformation fell. He was lucky that nobody else was there at the time.

“Hurry up, Plagg,” Adrien Agreste said as he tossed a piece of camembert to the Kwami. “We need to get back out there.”

“I hate rushing my cheese,” the little god of destruction practically whined as Adrien gave him a dirty look, “... but I’ll hurry.”

The next thing Adrien knew, Plagg was diving into his overshirt as the bathroom door opened.

“Adrien! There you are. I’ve been worried about you,” said the newcomer as he headed toward one of the bathroom stalls.

“Nino! What are you doing here?”

“What does it look like?” Nino asked. “I was only let out of our class’s shelter because I couldn’t hold it any more.” Nino quickly finished his business and looked his friend in the eye. “Ms. Bustier will be glad I found you.”

Adrien had no real choice but to let Nino drag him back to the rest of his classmates, but he was worried about his Lady. He hated every second that he left Ladybug alone, especially with an Akuma this difficult. By this time, Plagg had finished recharging so it was up to Adrien to try and figure out a way to escape unnoticed. That, however, was proving to be almost as difficult as the Akuma itself. He still hadn’t figured out a way to ditch Nino before they got to the class.

“Adrien, I’m glad you’re back with us,” said the ever-patient Ms. Bustier. “Please, join us.”

Adrien looked around the room, scanning the faces. Some were worried, but most seemed confident in the Heroes of Paris. (If only they knew…) It was as he was scanning the people before him that he noticed two missing faces. Lila was one, claiming to be on some charity trip with her mother again. The other …

“Where’s Marinette?” he asked.

“She said something about needing to find her cat and slipped out the door just after you did,” whispered Alya.

Adrien was concerned. Nobody should be out there during an Akuma attack, especially one this bad.

“I’m surprised you’re not out there filming it,” he said dryly.

Glancing at their teacher meaningfully, Alya responded. “I tried. I didn’t get very far.”

“Good thing, too,” Nino commented. “I’d hate to see you get hurt, Babe.” Alya smiled a little at that.

Adrien squirmed in his seat. He hated not being able to do anything. Especially since the battle was raging so close. He looked out the room’s windows, the battle coming uncomfortably close to where the class was sheltering. A sudden movement caught his eye, and instinct took over.

“Get down!” he yelled, and as his classmates all ducked a blur of black-spotted red crashed through the window, landing on the ground with a loud thump.

“Ladybug!”

He ran over to her, checking her pulse (still there, thank god) and searched for injuries. He didn’t find any, but the beep beep beep of her miraculous caught his attention.

“Everybody, close your eyes!” he yelled… but it was too late. Pink light flashed from Ladybug’s head to her toes, and in his arms was …

“Marinette,” he breathed. Adrien heard gaps from around the room and the thundering of feet as people started coming over.

“Stay back,” he commanded, using more authority in his voice than anyone recalled hearing from him before. Standing proud in front of the audience of his classmates and teacher he gave a serious glare to everyone in the room.

“Don’t you dare tell anyone what you saw or what you are about to see. Is that understood?” His demanding tone seemed to cut through the surprise in the room as they nodded mutely back at him. Kneeling once again at Marinette’s side, he swapped his ring for her earrings and fished a cookie out of her purse to feed Tikki.

“I tried, Adrien.”

“I know you did, Tikki” he soothed the red Kwami. “Are you okay?”

Eating as fast as she could, the floating goddess of creation replied, “I will be in a moment.”

“Plagg, look after Marinette for me.”

“Of course, kid. And if she wakes up in time, we’ll join you.”

“Good, I’ll probably need it.”

Once again addressing the class, Adrien made another plea. “Protect her for me. And if I even hear a whisper of our identities getting out…”

Nino was the first one to find his voice. “Dude, like no way we’d ever do that.”

“Right!” Kim chimed in.

“We’ll keep your secret,” Mylene said as Ivan nodded.

“With the revelation that both Ladybug and Chat Noir are in our class, I’m 100% certain that things will get more interesting,” chimed in Max.

Alya finally found her voice. “My best friend is Ladybug… Hang on.. my best friend is LADYBUG. And Chat Noir is my boyfriend’s best friend. It’s the scoop of a lifetime and I CAN’T WRITE ABOUT IT! Ugh…”

This broke the tension in the air, and the class started snickering. They were distracted by Adrien calling “Spots On!” before leaping out the window as Mr. Bug.

“Hang on a minute, I just thought of something.” Alix had the room’s attention on her. “We all know that Marinette is crushing hard on Adrien, right?”

There was a general consensus.

“And all of Paris knows that Chat Noir has a thing for Ladybug.”

Again the nods.

“But Marinette is Ladybug and apparently Chat Noir is none other than Adrien.”

There were gasps all around as her meaning became clear.

Juleka mumbled something and Rose said, “I think it’s more than just cool, Jules. It’s romantic!”

“Okay, that is IT,” seethed the Ladyblogger. “We are definitely getting these two idiots together.”

The entire class, including Ms. Bustier, nodded in approval.

Chapter Text

There You Are… (part 2)

Mr. Bug, a.k.a. Adrien Agreste (supermodel and “sunshine boy” of Ms. Bustier’s homeroom class), had just lept out of the window to face the current Akuma while a de-transformed Ladybug, a.k.a. one Marinette Dupain-Cheng (the clumsy and kind class president), was passed out on the floor. After which, Alix made an observation about the two teenage superheroes which later became known as the “love square”.

“Okay, that is IT,” seethed the Ladyblogger. “We are definitely getting these two idiots together.”

The entire class, including Ms. Bustier, nodded in approval.

“Good. It’s getting really annoying hearing my holder gush about his ‘Lady’ and ignore his crush on Pigtails. Anyone have any cheese?”

The class stared at the floating cat-god. “Oh my gosh, you’re so cute!” Rose exclaimed.

Plagg floated over and, giving the best kitten eyes he could, said “Name’s Plagg. Cheese?”

“I do,” said Alix. “Cheddar okay?”

Plagg madea semi-disgusted face. “It’ll do in a pinch, though I prefer a more refined cheese like camembert.”

“Wait, does Adrien carry camembert with him all the time?” Nino asked.

“Of course! I never know when I’ll get hungry … uh, when we’ll be needed,” Plagg confirmed as he snatched the cheddar from Alix, swallowing it whole.

“Dude! No wonder he smells like old cheese all the time. I was going to say something about it. Especially since he showers so often.”

“Hey, Plagg. What exactly are you?” Nathaniel asked.

“I’m a Kwami - specifically the Kwami of destruction. I power Chat Noir’s ring.”

“Oooh. Cool. So… Ladybug has a Kwami, too?”

“All Miraculous are powered by Kwamis. Tikki powers Ladybug’s earrings.”

“Plagg? I have some cheese over here,” said Rose as she held out a slice of Swiss. Plagg floated over and settled on her hand as he took the cheese, and Rose reached out to scratch behind his ears. “Do you mind?”

“Mmmnope,” the dark Kwami said as he began to purr. All the girls (including Alix) started to gush at how cute he was and gathered around Rose to lavish attention on the floating black god.

“Mmmm?” said a new voice as she started to regain consciousness. “Owww.”

“Marinette, are you okay?” Alya asked as she came closer to her best friend.

“.. ‘m alright. I think.” She struggled to sit up.

“Take it easy, Mari. I’ve got you,” Alya said as she helped her best friend to sit up.

“Wha’ ‘appened? Why ‘m I on the floor?”

“You crashed through the window, Ms. Dupain-Cheng,” the teacher advised. “Don’t you remember?”

“The window?” The girl in question looked at the window, her eyes going wide. Then she looked down at herself.

“Oh my gosh!” She jumped up, stumbling into the desk and starting to panic. “I’ve gotta run to the bathroom!”

“Marinette, we know.” Alya informed her best friend. “You de-transformed in front of us… Ladybug.”

“Oh, no. This is a disaster! Nobody is supposed to know our identities, not even each other!” The superheroine looked around the room in panic, and relaxed slightly seeing a few missing faces. She remembered that both Lila and Chloe were absent from class today. She also noticed a missing face. “This doesn’t go beyond those of us in this room. You can’t tell anybody or Hawkmoth may target you. I’d hate to see you targeted. And where is Adrien?”

Max gestured outside. “Adrien already gave us a warning, Marinette.”

“Yeah,” Ivan continued. “Then he switched his ring for your earrings.”

“What?” Marinette quickly felt her ears in a panic. “My earrings!”

“Don’t worry, Pigtails. Ad-[bubbles] - I hate that! - Anyway, Mr. Bug is fighting the Akuma. Got any more cheese?” Several hands shot up, and Plagg took his time checking out every available source of cheese.

Marinette looked at the ring on her finger. “Adrien? This is his ring?”

“Uh, huh,” said Ivan.

“He gave us all a serious look. It scared me, actually,” Mylene commented.

“Yeah, right before he warned us not to say anything to anyone, switched the ring for your earrings, and transformed,” Nathaniel continued.

“Adrien’s ring. But this is Chat Noir’s ring, I recognize it from when we fought Reflekdoll. But if this is Adrien’s ring then that means…”

Alya was grinning from ear to ear as she poked her best friend in the chest. “It means you don’t need to be nervous around Adrien any more.”

“What?!?”

“Think about it,” Alix continued. “We all know you have a huuuuge crush on Adrien.”

“Yeah, but he said that he’s in love with someone else,” Marinette said dejectedly.

“Yeah, but my best bud is Chat Noir!” Nino practically shouted in excitement.

“And all of Paris knows Chat Noir is in love with Ladybug,” continued Rose.

“And Ladybug, my dear bestie, is you.”

“But.. but..but.butbutbut… ohmigod. Have I really been rejecting Adrien for Adrien?”

“Looks that way,” chimed Max.

“So, what are you waiting for, Marinette? Go get your boy!”

Just then the class heard another crash from outside as Mr. Bug slammed into the window before taking off again.

Several voices expressed their concern. “Ouch!” “Looks painful” “I hope he’s okay.”

“Well,” Marinette said, straightening up and putting on her ‘brave’ face “…looks like he needs my help. Are you ready, Plagg?”

“Ready as ever, Pigtails.”

“Plagg, Claws Out!” One transformation later, Lady Noire stood in front of the class.

“And I can really trust you guys not to say anything?”

Getting affirmative nods from everyone in the class (including Ms. Bustier), Lady Noire looked around.

“You know, I think we’re going to need a little help with this one,” she commented. “I wonder…” Opening up the baton’s storage area, Lady Noire reached in and pulled out a necklace. “Yes!”

Looking once more at the class she said, “I have your word that you won’t say anything about what you’ve seen or are going to see?” Once more getting nods in the affirmative, Lady Noire held out the fox necklace.

“Alya, I need Rena Rouge once more.”

“Sweet!”

Reaching in again, she pulled the turtle bracelet. “Nino? We’ll want Carapace’s Shellter.”

“No problem, dude.”

“Pegasus?” She handed the glasses to Max.

“I’m 100% willing to assist.”

“King Monkey?” Kim held out his hand for the monkey headband.

“Awesome.”

“I could really use Viperion, too. Juleka, is Luka at home?”

A mumble and a nod in the affirmative was her answer.

“Pegasus, would you make a portal to the Couffaine’s houseboat for us? Leave it open long enough for us to get back, then feed your kwami and join us for the fight. Okay?”

“100% clear, Ladybug.”

As soon as everything was set, the heroes set out to find the Akuma. And if Mr. Bug and Lady Noire flirted with each other more than ever, they would say you were imagining things.

(On a side note: Once the Akuma was defeated and the heroes went their separate ways, Marinette allowed herself time for a proper freak out before calling Adrien and asking him out.)